The Exchange Coach House Inn and Tavern in Central Brigg has been acquired by the Hunt Group.
The historic Exchange Coach House Inn along with the Exchange Hotel and Exchange Tavern have been closed since 2020 and will be refurbished, renovated and fitted out by their property development business ahead of re-opening later this year.
Robert Smithson, associate director of Hotels Agency at Colliers advised Joseph Mullen on the sale after almost four decades of ownership, marketing the central Brigg complex for offers in the region of £950,000.
He said: “We are delighted to have advised Mr Mullen who successfully operated the business for the last 38 years. This sale highlights the strong levels of interest in regional UK hotels and in particular those which present a new owner with significant opportunities to grow trade in this post-pandemic market.”
Located across a large proportion of central Brigg, the property offers 42 ensuite bedrooms plus substantial public areas including four bars, two restaurants, several function/meeting rooms and an architecturally pleasing alfresco courtyard seating area. The original grade II* listed property was formally a gentleman’s club built in around 1760 and has been frequented by a number of local dignitaries as well as Winston Churchill during World War II.
Shaun Hunt, CEO of the Hunt Group, said: “The Hunt family are absolutely delighted with this acquisition and becoming the new custodians of this sizeable hotel and food and beverage complex in the very heart of the historic market town of Brigg.
“This is the family’s home town and we are committing ourselves to a very significant investment throughout the site. Whilst the ‘vibe’ in Brigg is already good we shall strive to make it even better, hopefully making Brigg the place to go in North Lincolnshire.
“This will undoubtably require the help, support and combined efforts of all local businesses, including all existing and new food and beverage operators. The plans for our own site currently includes a sports and live entertainment venue, large restaurant with gin bar, a more traditional pub bar, plus fully refurbished and updated ensuite bedrooms.”
Councillors in Leeds have recommended toughening up taxi and private hire driver license standards.
The licensing committee have recommended the adoption of the following set of standards for taxi and private hire license holders, in relation to minor motoring offences, to Leeds City Council’s executive board:
If a current licence holder accumulates seven or eight points, they would receive a warning and could be required to attend a driver training course to improve their driving standards and road safety awareness. They would be able to continue working and could still renew their licence.
If a current licence holder accumulates nine points or more, their licence would be reviewed on an individual basis, and they may be required to attend training. If they have already received training, revocation of their licence could be considered. All revocations will be reviewed by a subcommittee of councillors from the licensing committee.
For any new applications for a taxi and private hire drivers’ licence, licenses will not be granted if the driver has already accrued seven or more points for minor motoring convictions.
The current standard in Leeds is that taxi and private hire drivers can accrue 12 points on their driver’s license before any action is taken. However, the council is reviewing its policy on minor motoring convictions due to statutory guidance issued by the Department of Transport.
The council must have regard to the guidance and have a clear and compelling reason not to implement the standards it sets. The guidance states that applicants with multiple motoring convictions may indicate that the driver does not exhibit the behaviours of a safe road user or one that is suitable to drive professionally. The Institute of Licensing guidance suggests that seven points or more is an indication of multiple motoring convictions.
The recommended set of standards would affect less than 1.5 per cent of all current licence holders in Leeds, with over 80 per cent of taxi and private hire drivers in the city currently having no points on their licence whatsoever.
The recommendations of the licensing committee will now be considered for adoption at the next meeting of Leeds City Council’s executive board on September 21.
Councillor James Gibson, chair of the licensing committee, said: “As a committee we closely considered the proposal and the representations received along with the statutory guidance and the Institute of Licensing framework, which recommends the implementation of a seven-point threshold.
“I believe the proposal we have recommended to executive board strikes the right balance between protecting the travelling public and proactively supporting the taxi and private hire trade across Leeds, through the introduction of additional training and the consideration of cases on individual basis at the nine-point threshold.
“I also believe that the proposed amendments are also a fair reflection of the consultation work that has been ongoing to ensure the voices of both the trade and travelling public are fairly reflected in the outcome of any changes in the licensing standards.”
Plans to improve air quality and reduce pollution in and around Sheffield’s city centre from next spring will see the most polluting large goods vehicles, vans, buses, and taxis charged for entering the inner ring road – but private cars and motorbikes will be exempt.
Financial support will be available to support people affected by the Clean Air Zone to upgrade to cleaner vehicles, with further details on the grants funding to be made available in the coming months.
Cllr Terry Fox, Leader of Sheffield City Council, said: “We are clear that we need to act now to create a cleaner and healthier environment for everyone in Sheffield, but it is not something that the council can do on its own. This will be a big change for a lot of people, and the cost-of-living-crisis we are currently facing is putting a financial strain on us all. That is why as we take steps to put the Clean Air Zone into motion, we are also calling on Government to go further and increase the financial support available to support people to switch to a cleaner or electric vehicle.
“We recognise that small businesses need the most support in upgrading and after listening to what people have to say we have increased our proposed funding as much as we can, but there is still time for Government to provide more help to those who might already be struggling.
“Sustainability is at the heart of our plans for developing the city centre and the Clean Air Zone is an important part of our plans towards our goal of achieving net zero carbon by 2030. By reducing air pollution, maximising our green spaces, and making decisions that benefit our environment, we will continue to make Sheffield a great place to live for generations to come.”
Finance Yorkshire has appointed three experienced directors to its board.
Arnu Misra, Sara Parker and Andy Tupholme join following the launch of Finance Yorkshire’s new fund in 2021, which is expected to provide more than £50m to SMEs over the next five years.
The new fund has been structured to provide SMEs with a range of support through Seedcorn and Growth Fund (primarily equity) investments, alongside large and small Business Loans.
Arnu has 30 years’ senior-level experience within the retail, home improvement, clothing, leisure and food manufacturing sectors. He is a former chief operating officer at Matalan and Chief Executive of Nisa Retail. Arnu is also co-founder of premium drinks business Combined Foods and a non-executive director at Circularity Scotland Limited.
Sara Parker
Sara is an experienced director, who has delivered growth across multiple commercial roles in fintech and tech. Her former roles include product director for VocaLink/Mastercard and chief product officer for Mutual Vision, a fintech business targeting building societies.
Sara advises scaling businesses on go-to-market strategy and funding. She is a non-executive director of NorthInvest, an angel network specialising in tech start-ups across the North of England.
Andy is an experienced board director with a focus on strategy, finance, mergers and acquisitions. He is a private equity fund partner with 20 years’ UK investment experience and also coaches senior management teams. He is a non-executive director at Key Fund, the north’s largest social enterprise investment fund.
Andy Tupholme
James Newman, chair of Finance Yorkshire, said: “I am delighted that we have been able to add the collective skills and experience of Arnu, Sara and Andy to our board. Their input will be valuable as Finance Yorkshire focuses on providing investment that will unlock the growth potential of innovative and entrepreneurial businesses across our region, especially those that face the challenge of access to finance.”
Retiring from the board are directors Tony Parsons and David Bagley. James Newman paid tribute to both of them, saying: “Tony and David have been with Finance Yorkshire since it was created and have helped to oversee one of the most successful funds of its type. Their expertise and experience will be sorely missed and we thank them for their contribution to a happy and successful board.”
The Institute of Directors has boosted its East Yorkshire team with the appointment of health and safety management consultant Craig Foyle.
Craig is a chartered fellow of the Institution of Occupational Safety & Health (IOSH) and specialises in project safety management, training and management systems and consultancy support for clients internationally.
He owns Foyle Safety & Management, an IOSH approved training provider, and lectures on health and safety management at the University of Hull.
The IoD supports its members to become better directors. As a branch ambassador, Craig will drive greater connectivity with members, support professional development and ensure that IoD national policy reflects the needs of local directors.
Craig said: “I am looking forward to working alongside my IoD colleagues in East Yorkshire to support local directors. I hope to use my experience to help members maximise the potential of their organisations at this challenging time for business.”
IoD East Yorkshire branch chair Debra Leeves said: “I am delighted that Craig has joined our leadership team here in East Yorkshire. He has considerable experience as a business owner and consultant which will be an asset as we support directors in their business journeys.”
The transformation of 1 City Square in Leeds continues.
Hot on the heels of an £8 million refurbishment comes the news that a new on-site cafe is opening next month, while a new fully-fitted, hi-spec office on the ground floor will be available from October.
At the same time, the business lounge with bookable meeting rooms has been upgraded to provide space for the occupiers of 1 City Square.
Specialist Real Estate Asset Manager, Catella APAM (“APAM”) bought 1 City Square, which is located opposite Leeds Station, in 2018 for £32.3m on behalf of Britannia Invest A/S. Tenants include accountancy firm Deloitte, architects TP Bennett, asset managers Schroders and law firm Mills & Reeve. Another law firm Brabners are currently fitting their offices out, ready for occupation in late autumn.
The transformation of 1 City Square comes as work continues on the redesign of the City Square which will include an enhanced network of pedestrian and cycle friendly routes and the construction of City Square House, the new home for law firm DLA Piper.
Elizabeth Ridler, office agency partner with global property consultancy Knight Frank in Leeds, said: “The latest upgrades to 1 City Square complement the recent refurbishment perfectly. 1 City Square is now one of the very finest office buildings in Leeds, a fabulous example of creating a best-in-class working environment.
“This iconic building is now providing Leeds with superb office space for the 21st century, which will attract different companies and talent from across the UK.”
There is currently 2,236 sq ft of office space available on the ground floor, with 4,334 sq ft available on the first floor and 10,491 sq ft on the fourth floor, which can be sub-divided into smaller suites.
Robert White, CEO at Brabners, said: “Our launch into Leeds marked a significant milestone for our firm and follows five years of consecutive growth. Our investment in One City Square has a significant role to play in our future in Yorkshire and is consistent with our objective to build our presence in the market and play our part as an integral member of the Yorkshire business community.
“It is also in keeping with our recent investments in Manchester and Lancashire, and will provide an agile, collaborative and best-in-class environment to support clients, colleagues and the broader business community from across the region.”
The joint marketing agents with Knight Frank on 1 City Square are CBRE in Leeds.
Marketing and management experts at Leeds Beckett University have teamed up with a Leeds-based manufacturing company to bring academic knowledge and innovation into the business – setting them up for long-term growth, new product development, and sustainability.
A team of Leeds Business School academics will work with Medasil Surgical Limited on the two-year Management Knowledge Transfer Partnership (mKTP), which is part-funded by the Government through Innovate UK. Medasil are manufacturers, importers, and distributors of single-use medical devices for the healthcare sector, based on Hunslet Road, Leeds.
Founded in 1974, Medasil is a small independent, family-owned business specialising in the extrusion and moulding of single-use silicone medical devices under their own and other brands. Customers include the NHS, private hospitals and other healthcare facilities in the UK and worldwide.
Dr David Andrews, senior lecturer in marketing at Leeds Beckett and project leader of the mKTP, explained: “The aim of the project is to create and embed a profitable and sustainable business model that will enable Medasil to innovate and grow. We will set up new market intelligence and decision-making frameworks to provide them with the necessary strategic insight and management capabilities to grow the business sustainably.
“The project will include: upskilling and developing staff; embedding a long-term culture change within the organisation; and driving the business to become more market-orientated, agile and equipped to make informed decisions before investing in new innovations.”
Gillian Hassall, CEO of Medasil Surgical Limited, said: “We are very much looking forward to working with the team at Leeds Beckett University – they understand completely what is needed to enable us to make informed decisions about the future direction and growth of the company. This is a great opportunity for us to have a skilled graduate dedicated to this project, and to have David Andrews and Paul Rhodes, with their vast business and academic experience leading and mentoring. This project will help us to build a stronger more sustainable future for Medasil.”
The academic team all have extensive experience of working with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on knowledge exchange projects. Their expertise includes strategic marketing, sales management, and new product development. A skilled graduate will be recruited to carry out the project, as a full-time member of staff within the business, and with the full support and input of the academic team at Leeds Beckett.
Through the partnership with Leeds Beckett, Medasil staff members will have access to a range of development opportunities through the University’s wider business support programmes, including the #WECAN (Women Empowered through Coaching and Networking) programme – building the leadership skills, capabilities and opportunities of women in SMEs in the Leeds City Region; and Help to Grow: Management – supporting senior managers of SMEs to boost business performance, resilience, and long-term growth.
The mKTP has received financial support from the UK government department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) through Innovate UK.
Whittle Jones, managing agents acting on behalf of Northern Trust Company, have completed the letting of unit 3H at their 40,000 sq ft, 30 unit, Lake Enterprise Park estate in Doncaster to Twenty Four 70’s.
The letting was completed on a 3 year lease agreement, and has left just one unit vacant on the estate which is now home to 26 different businesses. The estate provides a range of workshop / industrial units from 505 sq ft up to 2,267 sq ft.
Twenty Four 70’s are a specialist in mid-century modern furniture and prints. They source brands like Nathan, G plan, McIntosh and all the other lesser known manufacturers from the 60s, 70s and even 80s, along with the best from Tretchikoff, Shabner, Ward, and J.H.Lynch; and restore the pieces for their new homes.
Owner of Twenty Four 70’s, Mo Overfield said: “I worked in Outdoor retail for many years, but during Covid, I decided I needed a change of direction. I have always had an interest in Mid Century Modern – 1960s, 1970s and 1980s – and decided to create a business buying, restoring and selling furniture and prints. My unit in Lake Enterprise Park is ideal, in that it provides a secure, well-lit environment, where I can work on the various items I find, and showcase them for sale online.”
Lake Enterprise Park is part of the Kirk Sandall Industrial Estate, situated approximately 4 miles north east of Doncaster town centre via the A630.
Clare Harrison, assistant management surveyor at Whittle Jones Yorkshire, added: “I am delighted to welcome Twenty Four 70’s to Lake Enterprise Park. Mo has been a pleasure to deal with and I am pleased we were able to provide the space he required to facilitate his business expansion plans.”
Doncaster-based Sentry Doors Limited has acquired E. & S. W. Knowles & Company Limited (Knowles), accelerating its growth and creating a leader in timber fire safety and security doorsets.
Established in 1923, E. & S. W. Knowles manufactures specialist timber internal doorsets with fire rated, acoustic and PAS 24 security certification. Operating nationally from a 50,000 square foot facility in Birmingham, Knowles offers bespoke, sector specific solutions that meet the exacting requirements of its commercial, healthcare, education and leisure customers.
Knowles employs approximately 100 people and in 2021, achieved revenue of £10m.
The enlarged business continues to be headquartered in Doncaster. Steve Horner, Knowles’ Managing Director, will join Sentry’s senior management team, working with Ty Aziz, Sentry’s Chief Executive.
Ty Aziz, Sentry’s Chief Executive, said: “I am delighted to welcome Knowles to Sentry Doors – they have a fantastic manufacturing heritage, an exceptional team and a superb product range so we can learn a lot from one another.
“This partnership will help us to respond to the surge in demand for our products, as well as providing our customers with a fully comprehensive range of fire safety and security solutions, and a greater choice of features and finishes. It marks a key milestone in the growth strategy for our businesses and advances our collective ambition to be UK leaders in this sector.”
Martin Wright, majority owner of Knowles, added: “Next year Knowles celebrates its centenary and while I am extremely proud of all that we have achieved in the last 99 years, I know that the company has the capability to achieve much more in the future.
“I believe that this is the natural point for me to pass the company to new, trusted custodians who can deliver on its future potential. Knowles has a perfect partner in Sentry and together, the companies should achieve great things.”
Signs making drivers aware of Sheffield’s upcoming Category C Clean Air Zone will start to be installed over the coming weeks, as the council moves forward with plans to improve air quality and reduce pollution in and around the city centre.
The signs and enforcement cameras will begin to be installed over the summer as Sheffield prepares to launch a Clean Air Zone in Spring 2023 that will charge the most polluting large goods vehicles, vans, buses, and taxis that enter the inner ring road and city centre. Private cars and motorbikes will not be charged.
Financial support will be available to support people affected by the Clean Air Zone to upgrade to cleaner vehicles, with further details on the grants funding to be made available in the coming months.
Cllr Terry Fox, leader of Sheffield City Council, said: “We are clear that we need to act now to create a cleaner and healthier environment for everyone in Sheffield, but it is not something that the council can do on its own. This will be a big change for a lot of people, and the cost-of-living-crisis we are currently facing is putting a financial strain on us all.
“That is why as we take steps to put the Clean Air Zone into motion, we are also calling on Government to go further and increase the financial support available to support people to switch to a cleaner or electric vehicle.
“We recognise that small businesses need the most support in upgrading and after listening to what people have to say we have increased our proposed funding as much as we can, but there is still time for Government to provide more help to those who might already be struggling.
“Sustainability is at the heart of our plans for developing the city centre and the Clean Air Zone is an important part of our plans towards our goal of achieving net zero carbon by 2030. By reducing air pollution, maximising our green spaces, and making decisions that benefit our environment, we will continue to make Sheffield a great place to live for generations to come.”
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