Windows specialist set to expand after securing £250k
A Sheffield company which specialises in replacing windows in historic buildings has secured a £250,000 loan from NPIF – Mercia Debt Finance, which is managed by Mercia and is part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF), to fund new contract wins.
Nueco Group provides bespoke windows, glazing and heritage facades and is one of only a handful of companies which manages the entire process from design and supply to installation.
Nueco was founded in 2019 by Tom Gibbons, a quantity surveyor who previously worked with large construction companies including Henry Boot, after spotting a gap in the market for a firm that could provide an end-to-end service to save time and make the entire process much easier for main contractors.
The company is chaired by David Grey MBE, the former Master Cutler and founder of OSL Group. It now employs ten staff and also has an office in London where much of its work is located. Nueco has worked on projects including London’s Spitalfields Market, Wymott Prison in Lancashire and the Springfield Hospital redevelopment project in London.
The loan will provide additional working capital to fund new projects and enable it to create five new jobs in the year ahead.
Tom Gibbons, founder and Managing Director, said: “The funding will make a huge difference to Nueco Group – allowing us to continue on our exciting growth path. It means we can take on more projects and, most importantly, more staff.”
Andy Tyas of Mercia added: “Nueco is one of the few specialists in its field and has grown rapidly since it was founded less than three years ago. Access to funding is critical for companies in the construction sector. The loan will give it the headroom it requires to be able to take on new and bigger projects and continue its expansion.”
International Sustainability Award Nomination for Lincoln Graduate
A Lincoln graduate is vying for a major international award after being recognised for driving forwards the sustainability agenda.
Matt Hucker, a graduate of the University of Lincoln, UK’s 2020 Business Management BA class, has been shortlisted in the Future Leader category at the World Sustainability Awards, which spotlight the individuals, teams, and organisations across the globe that are driving positive change in corporate and social sustainability.
Matt, who now works as a Continuous Improvement Specialist for retail pharmacy giant Walgreens Boots Alliance in Nottingham, has been recognised for the work he undertakes as Chair of the company’s Environmental Sustainability Business Resource Group.
The group is a voluntary community of like-minded individuals who are all looking to learn about how to lead more sustainable lives, hear what the business is doing and challenge the business to do more.
Under Matt’s stewardship the group has now grown to over 300 members from across the organisation. Matt has also defined a strategy to deliver an educational event and activity roadmap to deliver the group’s objectives across the coming years.
Speaking about the nomination, Matt said: “I am truly honoured to have been nominated let alone shortlisted for this award. The recognition I have received staggers me because this is something that I truly enjoy doing and is also something I deliver on the side of my day job. I am also on my development journey with sustainability, I am no eco worrier, but leading the Environmental Sustainability Business Resource Group has taught me a huge amount.
“It’s a privilege to be able to lead such a passionate group of like-minded people who join optionally. We have the opportunity to work with some incredible people from our ESG teams and external businesses to deliver some truly amazing events and initiatives that all help drive our business forward towards a more sustainable future.”
Winners will be revealed at the World Sustainability Congress in Munich next month, where major companies including Diageo, Colgate-Palmolive, and many more will also be looking to take home an award whilst also discussing how to reach the big climate goals of 2030.
Giacom extends sporting commitment to grassroots teams
Grassroots sports teams in Hull and East Yorkshire are receiving vital funding from Cloud services provider Giacom.
Giacom is already a sponsor of Hull City Football Club and has now extended its commitment to sport with donations to a series of community clubs and teams.
Giacom invited staff to nominate sports teams to receive funding and each recipient has a personal connection to a member of the team at the Cloud specialist.
Teams to benefit from the funding include Hessle Rangers Girls U13s football team, Hull Knights Ice Hockey and Kingston Boxing Club in Hull.
Tom Buil, Lead Software Developer at Giacom, has a daughter playing for Hessle Rangers Girls U13s and Giacom’s support has enabled the club to own their own kit, complete with company branding.
Tom said: “For the team to have their own branded kit is really special and I know it will mean so much to all the players.
“Grassroots sport plays such an important role in the lives of so many young people and I’m really pleased that Giacom values the positive impact it can have.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how the team gets on in the upcoming season, wearing their brand new Giacom kit, and I wish them the best of luck.”
Giacom is in the same group of companies as Digital Wholesale Solutions (DWS) and Union Street and a total of 11 teams and clubs will benefit from the funding, having been nominated by employees of the businesses.
Recipients of the funding in Yorkshire are:
- Hessle Rangers Girls U13s football team.
- Hull Knights Ice Hockey.
- Kingston Boxing Club.
- Hedon Rangers Blues U6s football team.
- South Yorkshire Referees.
Family business sector promotion week is planned for November
A week-long campaign to highlight the UK Family Business sector during the height of the cost-of-living crisis will take place this November when the Institute for Family Business hosts its annual Family Business Week in partnership with NatWest.
As businesses across the UK face a difficult winter caused by rising energy prices, the IFB is championing the work family businesses do to foster economic growth and the role they play in shaping the fabric of their local communities and regions.
As part of Family Business Week, from Monday 21 – Friday 25 November, the IFB will work with the Government to ensure that business support is directed towards those organisations at risk from closing as a direct result of the cost-of-living crisis.
Family businesses from across the country will be sharing their stories of how they are supporting their employees and local communities during the cost-of-living crisis. They will showcase the valuable role that family firms are playing to tackle the climate crisis/creating a more energy efficient economy by making their businesses more sustainable and growing the UK economy.
Neil Davy, Chief Executive of the Institute for Family Businesses, said: “We are very proud to celebrate family business’s place in the world and illustrate how they are the backbone of local communities and integral to the growth of the economy.
“We started Family Business Week to highlight the immense role that family businesses played supporting people and communities during the pandemic. However, this year’s campaign is perhaps even more urgent as thousands of family businesses face skyrocketing energy bills and are worried about how they will survive.
“Family Business Week 2022 is about ensuring the Government realises business support is needed in order for firms to survive the winter.”
New client wins lead to five more e-commerce agency jobs in Leeds
Leeds-based e-commerce agency AYKO Digital has strengthened its marketing and creative departments with five new recruits following a series of client wins.
The new hires include Lucy Gregg who joins as Senior Paid Media Manager, bringing with her four years’ experience and expertise in large agencies.
Dan Carr joins as SEO Manager with four years’ experience agency-side. He will be heading up the SEO offering and supporting AYKO clients with SEO auditing, platform migrations, and growth strategy.
Also joining the AYKO team is a Junior UI/Web Designer and two new marketing graduates as part of the company’s existing and highly successful graduate scheme. The intake of graduates will develop under the stewardship of Marketing Director Chris Tate and will ensure the company can continue to deliver for its rapidly growing book of clients.
Founder and CEO James Hyett said of the expansion: “Even in these turbulent times we continue to be in a position that allows us to strengthen our team. We have always been strong believers that investing in new talent is an investment that pays for us and our clients. These new recruits are a reaffirmation of that belief.
“We’re building a culture here that fosters innovation and personal development with the overall goal of delivering a first class ecommerce experience for our clients and their customers.”
Social Housing provider plans move to new premises in Grimsby
Next spring social landlord Lincolnshire Housing Partnership will move its Grimsby base to Cartergate House, on Chantry Lane in the town.
The housing association previously announced the end of its lease on Westgate House, and its search for a new North East Lincolnshire home. Changes will reflect the feedback the organisation received from customers and stakeholders in the preparation for its 2022-2027 Corporate Strategy, Building Better Communities Together. Customers particularly highlighted their desire to see LHP teams in their communities, rather than having to visit an office environment.
The ground floor office suite, extending to just under 5,000 square feet has been empty since the building was built by North East Lincolnshire Council and occupied mainly by Wilkin Chapman Solicitors.
Murray Macdonald, Chief Executive of Lincolnshire Housing Partnership said: “We have recently launched our 2022-2027 Corporate Plan, Great Homes…Strong Communities, which outlines our commitment to a more sustainable future, and working more closely with our customers in their neighbourhoods.
“As an organisation we are embracing modern ways of working and providing our colleagues with both flexibility and the most appropriate facilities for them to undertake their role.
“We have also seen our customers’ habits change, as well as moving away from the traditional habits of attending a local office, there has been a call for more ways to contact LHP through digital channels.
“We work best when we are engaging with customers and other agencies to deliver housing solutions. Such engagements can work better in the community and, sometimes, in people’s homes.
“Having a large office with rows of desks is not particularly efficient and so we have taken the view that a smaller office base and increased technology and flexibility will enable us to invest further into the business.”
LHP has been advised by Scott’s Property LLP, whose Lawrence Brown said: “We worked with LHP to help shape and create their brief. The proposal is to fit out the premises in a modern staff focused way rather than straightforward corporate office. Cartergate House met a number of criteria including flexibility of accommodation, proximity to other services together with sustainable issues such as public transport links and energy efficiency.”
The premises are currently in a shell state and contractors will spend the next few months fitting out the premises with occupation anticipated to take place in spring next year.
Plans submitted for £67m mixed-use scheme in Boston
Residential land specialist Terra has submitted a hybrid planning application for a mixed-use scheme of up to 320 new homes and a care home in Boston, Lincolnshire.
Located on land off Toot Lane, less than two miles from Boston town centre, the £67m hybrid scheme is for a detailed first phase of 153 one, two, three and four-bedroom homes, with the proposed care home and balance of 320 homes submitted in outline form.
The 11Ha (27.3 acre) site, which is shown as a Housing Commitment in the South East Lincolnshire Local Plan adopted in 2019, is located within the Settlement Limits of Boston. Terra has undertaken pre-application engagement with local residents, parish and district councillors.
Two areas of Public Open Space and a fully equipped play area will create focal points for the scheme, while tree, hedgerow and shrub planting will deliver net biodiversity gains.
Jordan Langdon-Bates, land and development director of Terra, said: “We are very pleased to be submitting a Hybrid application for this much-needed mixed-use scheme. With so many employment opportunities close by, Boston is an attractive and affordable place to live, and this highly sustainable scheme will add to the vibrancy of the local area.
“The scale of this well-located site will enable the creation of a high-quality new community of eco-efficient modern homes, within easy reach of town centre amenities and local schooling. Subject to planning approval, this immediately available site could help to meet South East Lincolnshire’s annual housing targets at a time when there is a considerable shortfall in the number of new homes being built across the UK.
“We are looking forward to continuing to work with Boston Borough Council officers, the parish council and all stakeholders as our plans are considered.”
A total of 153 apartments, bungalows and houses are proposed for phase one of the development, comprising 123 build to rent dwellings and 30 affordable housing properties, which represents 20 per cent.
On-plot parking could comprise a mix of driveways, frontage parking, and rear parking courts. The proposed two-storey care home has been specifically designed to be positioned in the north-east corner of the site, covering approximately 0.6Ha (1.5-acres). Hawthorn Tree Primary School is located opposite the entrance to the site, while the rest of the immediate area is predominantly residential.
Planning and design specialists Nineteen47, engineers M-EC and ecology experts fpcr worked with Terra on the plans, which include pedestrian and vehicular access created from Toot Lane.
Experts teach young people skills as part of Chapel restoration programme
Young people are learning skills to protect and preserve an historic building in Wakefield.
The Westgate Unitarian Chapel needs urgent repairs and these are being funded as part of the £3.8m Wakefield’s Upper Westgate Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) project.
Part of the work at the chapel involves working with Yorkshire Lime Company, a specialist building contractor, that is teaching students from the building department at Wakefield College, about traditional methods for restoration.
There is a national shortage of skilled workers to work on heritage led projects, and it is hoped the scheme will encourage some students to consider a future career in conserving buildings.
The project is part of the £3.8m HAZ restoration initiative; a collaboration between Wakefield Council and Historic England that offers grants to owners of historic buildings along the street to repair and revitalise their buildings. Work has started on a number of buildings and the scheme has seen improvements made to four of the historic yards leading off Westgate.
Westgate Unitarian Chapel is one of only two grade II* listed buildings in the conservation area with the current chapel built in 1752. The catacombs of the Chapel are the burial place for influential historical figures such as industrialists, innovators, members of Parliament and political radicals.
Cllr Darren Byford, cabinet member for regeneration at Wakefield Council, said: “This is a wonderful project that is restoring this important building, and it’s great to see enthusiastic young people getting hands-on experience, and learning vital repair skills.
“These skills are essential so that buildings in our district can be preserved for the future, and this is one of the reasons why the HAZ programme is so important not just now, but so that generations to come can enjoy our history and heritage.”
Students are learning about working with heritage bricks, the use of specialist mortar, and about the difference of working at ground level and under-ground in the catacombs.
Sarah Cobham, committee member of Westgate Unitarian Chapel, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be offering this opportunity to local people so that they can become upskilled and help restore our chapel at the same time. Being part of the HAZ project is very important to us and we are proud to be enabling such important skills to be gained.”
Nicky Brown, from Historic England, said: “This is a fantastic initiative which is helping to restore a key historic landmark while enabling young people to develop new skills at the same time.
“Our historic environment plays an important role in creating our sense of pride in where we live and where we are from. This scheme is a great example of the innovative way that the High Street Heritage Action Zone is helping to revitalize the town, celebrating its rich history and making it more attractive to residents, businesses, tourists and investors.”
Jonathan Inglesfield, a construction lecturer from Wakefield College, said: “I think this is an excellent opportunity for the next generation of trades persons entering the construction industry; to learn how to look after our heritage buildings stock.
“The students are working closely with heritage experts who are devoting time, personal skill set and experience to support the understanding of our future workforce.
“This type of project is imperative to the country as these skills and the knowledge that are required is fading asset we are losing. This imparts further importance on projects of this nature to hopefully begin to encourage more of our workforce to up skill and look after the country’s heritage.”
York’s second HyperHub opens
York’s second electric vehicle HyperHub, located next to Poppleton Park and Ride, is now officially open.
The new site opens during York Environment Week and joins the Monks Cross HyperHub, which opened earlier this year and is one of the largest charging hubs in Northern England.
Both HyperHub sites contain 4 Ultra-Rapid (175kW) and 4 Rapid (50kW) vehicle chargers, helping to support the uptake of modern electric vehicles (EV) that have larger battery capacities and are capable of Ultra Rapid charging.
Poppleton features 4175kW ultra-rapid chargers (which can be upgraded to 350kW when vehicle charging rates make that worthwhile).
The HyperHub also has a solar canopy which allows the site to generate its own renewable energy which can be stored in the Tesla Powerpack batteries at the charging hub, helping to reinforce the grid.
The ultra-rapid chargers are user-friendly for EV drivers and offer contactless payment methods. Cars and vans can access the chargers, and the facility has been designed with no kerbs to allow disabled access. Protection from the weather is provided by the solar canopy and all of the electricity supplied from the National Grid will be generated by renewable sources.
The unique project is the result of a partnership between City of York Council and EvoEnergy.
Cllr Keith Aspden, leader of City of York Council, said: “York is now proud to be the home of one of the largest electric vehicle charging hubs in Northern England.
“Monks Cross Hyperhub has been hugely popular since it opened this year. Poppleton offers the same convenience, sustainability and speed.
“Our Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy and work with EvoEnergy are key to the success of this project. The HyperHubs are just the latest part of city wide work to support more sustainable travel and our efforts to make York cleaner and greener.”
Jonathan Roper, senior renewable energy consultant at EvoEnergy, added: “The HyperHub next to Poppleton Park and Ride, sister site to Monks Cross, with elements such as rapid and ultra-rapid chargers, solar energy generation and battery storage, is enabled by the solar and batteries installed onsite.
“The grid capacity in this location is limited, which could limit the number of people charging at the site simultaneously. With batteries being charged by solar energy, more people will be able to charge up at once in a hassle-free way, helping to reduce emissions from road transport in York.”
A key element behind the development of the HyperHubs was the production of an Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy by the council. This looked at a wide range of issues in order to ensure that the HyperHubs met the needs of residents, fleets, commuters and through traffic. The convenient location of the charging hubs was a central part of the strategy, with the first 2 HyperHub sites being located off the ring road next to established Park and Ride sites.
The Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy also identified that it wasn’t yet commercially viable for the private sector to develop such charging hubs, so the council would own its charging network in order to guarantee the best results for residents. This allows the council to plan how the network will grow and to set tariffs, as well as making it directly accountable and enabling it to deliver next generation chargers as quickly as possible.
The funding for the HyperHubs is also unique, with City of York Council successfully securing £1 million of European Regional Development Funding and £800,000 from the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles, along with £400,000 of the council’s own capital funding to install the first two HyperHubs. This has resulted in 80% of the £2.2 million project being externally funded. Private sector slows at fastest rate since early 2021
Private sector activity fell in the three months to September (balance of -19%, from -5% in August), according to the CBI’s latest Growth Indicator, and businesses expect the decline to accelerate over the next quarter.
The fall over the past quarter was the fastest since February 2021 with activity declining across all sectors. Business volumes in both business & professional services (-14% from -1%) and consumer services (-57% from -37%) fell at a faster rate than in the quarter to August.
Meanwhile, distribution sales fell after having grown slightly in the quarter to August (-13% from 7%), and manufacturing output fell at a similar pace as last month (-4% from -7%).
Looking ahead to the next three months, private sector activity as a whole is expected to decline at an even quicker pace (-30% from -19%). Prospects have deteriorated across all sectors: services activity (-30% from -25%), manufacturing output (-17% from -4%), and distribution volumes (-44% from -13%) are all expected to decline at a faster rate in the next three months.
Alpesh Paleja, CBI lead economist, said: “Across the private sector, firms have had to contend with significant uncertainty surrounding energy costs as well as ongoing supply chain challenges and weaker consumer demand.
“While there are fears that economic activity may fall even quicker still next quarter, the Government has only [last] week made some significant moves to shield all businesses from high energy costs, while also setting out its plans to kickstart economic growth.
“These bold plays will help in building up fragile business confidence and get firms on the front foot once more.”
