79% of business leaders expect to use remote working in the long-term
An Institute of Directors survey of almost 700 business leaders in January 2022 has shown that around 8 out of 10 organisations plan to adopt remote working in the long-term.
The research found that over a quarter (27%) of directors expect their organisations to be fully flexible, with the use of remote working being down to the individual staff member, and a further 39% intend to shift towards one to four days of remote working per week.
An additional 13% reported their organisation moving entirely to remote working, while just 16% are not planning to introduce any form of remote working.
The IoD also found that business leaders were split on whether working from home was more or less productive. 43% said remote working was more productive, while 31% felt it was less productive for their work.
However, women have found remote working more productive than men. The net positive (percentage finding remote working more productive, minus the percentage less productive) for women is +42, compared to just +7 for men.
Commenting on the findings, Alex (Alexandra) Hall-Chen, senior policy adviser at the Institute of Directors, said: “It is clear that businesses are embracing remote and hybrid working beyond the pandemic.
“Remote working can be a powerful tool in improving employees’ work/life balance and job satisfaction, which contributes to a more engaged and productive workforce. It can also give employers access to a wider and more diverse talent pool, something particularly valuable in today’s competitive labour market.
“However, remote working is not suitable for all organisations. Different businesses have different needs, and companies will work closely with their employees to find the best solutions.”
Brighouse fire safety firm acquired by Marlowe
Marlowe, the AIM-listed company which delivers business critical services and software that assure regulatory compliance, has acquired S F Fire Limited.
Founded in 1973, S F Fire is a provider of fire safety services based in Brighouse, West Yorkshire.
The business has been snapped up for an enterprise value of up to £1.1 million including a payment contingent on integration of £0.1 million.
For the year ended 30 September 2021, S F Fire generated profit before tax of £0.2 million on revenue of £0.8 million. Net assets at 30 September 2021 were £0.5 million.
The acquisition will be funded from Marlowe’s existing cash resources.
Apprenticeship funding to create new opportunities in North Yorkshire
Funding is available to help North Yorkshire businesses invest in staff development through the delivery of apprenticeships within their workforce for new and existing staff.
As a large employer, ourselves and schools are required to pay an Apprenticeship Levy at the rate of 0.5% of their pay bill under the government’s apprenticeship scheme introduced some years ago. The levy can be spent on apprenticeship training, but it is not possible for the council and schools to fully spend the amount of levy they pay, due to specific features of the scheme such as the need for 20 per cent to involve “off the job” learning; apprenticeship standards not being available for many roles and limitations for part time staff.
In order to reduce the amount of unspent levy funds returned to the treasury, we have adopted a strategy to transfer up to 25 per cent of its apprenticeship levy fund to other employers in the county. The focus is on supporting employers delivering services in North Yorkshire, or providing community services, by boosting the number of high-quality apprenticeships on offer in key areas of industry and supporting the social and economic needs of the county.
A total of 41 employers have already taken advantage of our Levy Transfer offer since 2019, allowing them to train 152 apprenticeships across the county. They include organisations in the care sector, construction, digital and voluntary sector. So far, we have allocated approximately £1m worth of funding.
Justine Brooksbank, Assistant Chief Executive for Business Support: “This week is National Apprenticeship Week and we want to highlight the huge benefits to both organisations and employees through the use of apprenticeships.
“By transferring some of our levy to help fund apprenticeship training and learning for other business, we are reinvesting back into the North Yorkshire community and helping organisations meet the social and economic needs of the county.”
In partnership with Scarborough District Council, we have supported employers through levy transfer to access training provided by the Coastal Communities Government Grant Funded Project, Scarborough Construction Skills Village. The project aims to support local residents into apprenticeships and jobs within the construction industry, with the ability to access training in Scarborough, helping prevent that drain of local talent.
Graham Ratcliffe, runs the Skills Village, which trains up apprentices for all areas of the construction industry on a full-scale, mock-building site in Scarborough. It trains up people in joinery, brickwork, ground work, plastering, plumbing and electrical work.
He said: “Apprenticeships can be a great opportunity for a young person to earn a salary while they learn, but they also provide opportunity for people wanting to upskill. For instance, if there is an individual who is working as a general labourer and wants to learn a trade such as joinery or plastering, we can support them to get an apprenticeship within that trade.
“Apprenticeships are a good way of retaining people and are good for small or medium employers who want to build their business organically.
“They also benefit the area as a whole. Young people no longer have to go out of the area to learn.
Receiving apprenticeship levy transfer funding has also helped the County’s care sector in attracting and retaining staff by increasing their skills and progressing their careers.
Joanne Rowntree, manager of Gravers Care Home said: “The levy funding that we received from North Yorkshire County Council has greatly benefited our staff team and our organisation. It has enabled our staff to work towards a qualification needed to help them build a career in health care.”
More than 50 per cent of the apprentices funded so far work in care settings across the County and at a time of national crisis in the recruitment of care staff it’s important for the County Council to be able to support local employers to upskill new and existing staff.
The arts centre and outreach charity, Rural Arts, in Thirsk, is one of the community organisations to have benefited from the council’s apprenticeship levy transfer fund which can also be used for management qualifications.
Max May, Director and Chief Executive Officer of Rural Arts, is completing the Senior Leadership Apprenticeship, which includes an MBA in Management after he was awarded money from the levy.
Max was appointed director of the charity in 2019, but had first joined the organisation via a publicly funded internship in 2014. After leaving to work with an award-winning arts charity in London, he then returned to Thirsk to take up his post at the head of the organisation.
Max said: “Because I have received funding for the apprenticeship, it means I’m able to pursue this qualification while I work and get the skills to support my organisation and the team around me.
“If community organisations make use of this resource made available by the county council, we can make sure we’re responding to the changing needs of our communities, particularly after the pandemic.”
Read more details on North Yorkshire’s the Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Fund.
Cubo hails demand at Wellington Place
Cubo has revealed it has seen positive demand for space at its new Wellington Place base as it opens its doors at the leading urban quarter.
The fast-growing co-working space provider has already signed up a number of occupiers, including a financial services company which has chosen Wellington Place in Leeds city centre as the location for its first operation outside London, taking a 50-seat office space.
Ranging from entrepreneurs beginning their commercial journeys to established businesses, Cubo at 6 Wellington Place has the capacity to accommodate more than 300 people at any one time over 19,821 sq ft of space.
The Cubo concept offers hot desking in communal spaces, designated desks in shared private offices and office space providing flexible opportunities for prospective occupiers, including smaller businesses on shorter lease terms and combined memberships for businesses who have both private office and hot desking requirements.
Cubo at Wellington Place is its fourth site since launching in Derby in early 2020 before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Marc Brough, Founder and Managing Director at Cubo, said: “Cubo is proud to have opened its doors at Wellington Place as people continue to explore new ways of connecting, collaborating, being creative and productive.
“This is an approach that has been pioneered by the team behind Wellington Place since long before the pandemic hit, and one which has firmly established it as one of the north of England’s leading business communities, with people and place at its heart.
“We were confident that selecting a partner with the same ethos as Cubo to become the latest addition to our portfolio would be the right choice, and the interest we are already seeing to join the Wellington Place community has fully justified this.
“Cubo is committed to harnessing an inspirational, creative and enjoyable working environment, whether that be through private offices, a designated desk or hot desking. Our flexible membership offer, and availability of shorter lease terms has attracted an exciting mix of businesses and entrepreneurial talent across our sites and all this, coupled with the superbly designed space at 6 Wellington Place and the fantastic offer across the development, means we are looking forward to a bright future in Leeds and welcoming more occupiers.”
Paul Pavia, Commercial Director at MEPC, the developer and asset manager behind Wellington Place, said: “Cubo has created a proposition centred around enabling people to have positive experiences in how and where they work, helping them to not only succeed commercially but also personally.
“This very much aligns with our own values and our view that the workplace will become even more important as the pandemic ends. Therefore, we see Cubo as a perfect fit to open its doors within the Wellington Place community as we look forward to expanding our choice and offering as a socially cohesive place to work and visit throughout 2022 and beyond.
“In addition, Cubo’s opening in Leeds not only also demonstrates ongoing confidence in Wellington Place but also in the Leeds city centre office market.”
For more information please visit www.cubowork.com, email enquiries@cubowork.com or call 01332 977700.
For more information, visit https://www.wellingtonplace.co.uk/.
New ABCD grants, worth over a quarter of a million, announced to support community building programmes across Leeds
New grants worth £262,500 have been announced to support the expansion of the successful Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) programme across Leeds, with five new ‘pathfinder’ sites receiving grants.
The successful third sector organisations awarded the ABCD community grants are Halton Moor and Osmondthorpe Project for Elders (HOPE), InterACT, Slung Low, New Wortley Community Association and Give a Gift.
Asset based community development is an approach to sustainable community-driven development, supporting local people to make the changes they want to see in their neighbourhood, developed on the premise that everyone has assets and strengths to contribute to their community.
Pathfinder sites work within their local community to uncover and develop existing strengths and assets of individuals and groups, helping to build social connections and fostering citizen led action.
In 2021 Leeds Beckett University published the findings of an 18-month research study into the ABCD model in Leeds. The evaluation found evidence that individuals were better connected, friendships were made, and supportive relationships were formed during this period across ABCD sites.
Examples of better community cohesion were also found across the ABCD sites, with different generations coming together and communities becoming more inclusive of people with disabilities.
The grants are set to return a significant value of investment for the council, with the Leeds Beckett University study estimated between £5 – £14 of social value is returned for every pound invested into the ABCD community pathfinder programme.
Cllr Fiona Venner, executive member for adults and children social care and health partnerships, said: “ABCD has been pioneered in Leeds and has been a real success story of how the council has supported communities to create the change they want to see. It is fantastic that we can roll out the programme to a further diverse selection of communities across the city.
“I look forward to seeing the impact that these new ABCD pathfinder grants will have on empowering communities.”
Georgie Spedding, chief executive officer of Halton Moor and Osmondthorpe Project for Elders, said: “HOPE is delighted to have been awarded the funding to employ an ABCD community builder for the community of Halton Moor, to uncover and develop existing assets, strengths, and connections between people.
“This investment will enable an exciting and new way of working in partnership with our community by focusing on its strengths and not what’s wrong, it will empower the community growth and development. The investment will further bring people together and improve health and wellbeing.
“This is a partnership we are proud to be part of and we look forward to our new ABCD Community Builder joining us in the new year and start connecting with the diverse community of Halton Moor.”
To find out more about the ABCD programme, visit: www.abcdinleeds.com
First tour of new build Broadacre primary school
The first tour of new £8.2million Broadacre primary school has today been held ahead of pupils moving in this spring.
The completion of the school provides an additional 210 places to that of the old building, bringing capacity up to 630 pupil places. It incorporates a 10-place purpose-built space for children with Autistic Spectrum Condition, as well as a 52-place nursery, and enhanced external spaces and teaching areas, including a fenced multi-use games area.
Councillor Shane McMurray, Portfolio Holder for children’s services said: “Not only does this new build provide a fantastic environment for local children, but I’m pleased that it offers purpose-built provision for children with autism.
“This school is part of the council’s wider investment of £50milion into the city’s schools, to ensure children have the best learning environments possible, and this school will provide just that.”
Children and staff at Broadacre have worked closely with Esteem Consortium and Sewell Construction, who have delivered the project. Every class completed a mini project on Autism to learn more about the condition during World Autism Awareness Week, children waved flags to celebrate the “topping out” when the build reached its highest point last summer, and special guest mascot, Roary the Tiger joined pupils and staff to celebrate the opening of the multi-use games area for a day of sporting activities.
Lisa Staines, Executive Head at Broadacre Primary School said: “Staff and pupils have been involved throughout the process and everyone has really enjoyed watching the building progress, as well as being involved in key milestones. We are now very excited to move in and enjoy the school!”
The school has been designed and built sustainably, with maximum energy efficiency, including solar panels on the roof and electric vehicle charging points. The children will also enjoy bug hotels and bird boxes around the school, along with CCTV in one of the boxes so children can see first-hand wildlife interactions.
Esteem General Manager, Gavin Barley, added: “Working with Hull City Council and Sewell Construction on this project has been a pleasure. The process instils such a sense of pride in the whole team, especially when we see the excited faces of those it means the most to – the pupils.”
Hull City Council shines a spotlight on amazing apprentice for National Apprenticeship Week
Hull City Council is shining a spotlight on one of their brilliant apprentices and showcasing some great opportunities to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week.
National Apprenticeship Week is a week-long government-led event which highlights the exceptional work being done by employers and apprentices across the country.
Georgie Roberts started her apprenticeship with the council in September, becoming a Support Officer for the Employment Hub based at Hull Central Library.
Georgie said: “When I had finished school at the age of 16, I was stuck between going to college or finding an apprenticeship. I heard of this apprenticeship through my nana who works for the council, just after leaving school in September. And I knew it would be an amazing experience.
“I have family members have worked at the council and I’ve heard only good things about it. Knowing my family members have had great outcomes, I knew it would be a great way to gain experience and new skills to progress in the future.
“My role is customer-facing and I am the first point of contact with clients and businesses in the Employment Hub. I offer support to the employment advisors which includes monitoring all referrals, helping with CVs, assisting with setting up meet the employer events and any other admin tasks needed. My favourite parts of my job include setting up and participating in events, managing social media and greeting all customers.
“Before coming to the Employment Hub, I had no experience of working in an office so this job has given me the relevant experience to work in an office environment. Through this experience, I have also gained many new skills such as professionalism when speaking to businesses and customers over the phone, face-to-face and through email communication. It has also shown me the reality of working life and how I’ve been able to adapt easily and happily.
“My short-term goal is to progress within the team. My long-term goal is to excel in the council and progress in the skills that I will continue to learn every day.
“I would recommend working within the council as an apprentice as it is a great way to achieve a qualification and gain work experience and new skills. By being an apprentice, you also have one college day. This gives you knowledge and a qualification which is a great starting point. It’s also a great way to meet new people within your team and other teams in the council, which can then present new work opportunities.
“Overall, I am having the best time in my apprenticeship and couldn’t be happier with the role I am doing now. The people I work with in my team couldn’t be more supportive as well.”
Gill Brownlee, Employment Hub Manager, is Georgie’s line manager. She said: “Georgie has been a star! She has been an excellent addition to our team and her support has been invaluable. I would encourage any employer to consider the value that an apprentice can offer their business.”
Councillor Daren Hale, portfolio holder for Economic Investment and Regeneration said: “Apprenticeships offer a young person an important path into learning new skills and gaining job experience.
“Georgie is a shining example of how beneficial apprenticeships are to both employers and young people seeking a new opportunity.”
Find out more about apprenticeships by visiting the Hull Training and Adult Education website.
The Wensleydale Creamery launches new heart shaped truckle for all-year-round gifting
From Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Easter, the new waxed truckle offers customers a chance to show their love with a fan-favourite cheese
The Wensleydale Creamery has launched a new limited-edition 100g heart shaped truckle of its popular Yorkshire Wensleydale & Cranberries cheese.
Creamy, crumbly, and full of flavour, Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese has been carefully combined with the delicate fruity succulence of sweet cranberries, and wrapped up in an eye-catching red wax heart shaped truckle.
The Wensleydale Creamery was the first to launch Yorkshire Wensleydale & Cranberries back in 1996, and since then it has firmly established itself as a beloved household staple, becoming one of the Creamery’s best sellers.
The special-edition cheese is available at £2.25 RRP for 100g and can be bought direct from the Wensleydale Creamery’s Online Deli and select independents and farm shops.
To find out more, please visit: www.wensleydale.co.uk.
West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce announces new CEO
West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce has today announced the appointment of James Mason as its new Chief Executive Officer.
The business organisation, which represents more than 2,500 members from across Bradford, Leeds, York and North Yorkshire, has made the announcement ahead of James’ official start date of Tuesday 2nd May 2022.
James (43), who stepped down from his previous role as Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire in October 2021, will spend the coming weeks shadowing current Chief Executive Sandy Needham, who retires from the role on Friday 29th April.
Having set up his own manufacturing business over 20 years ago, James has enjoyed a distinguished career having held leadership roles at Bradford City and Rochdale Football clubs, as well as a period working as a sports agent. As a qualified journalist, James worked for many years as a news and sports reporter with the BBC and is the founder of two not for profit dementia cafes in West Yorkshire.
Speaking about his new role, James said: “I am delighted to be joining the West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce to champion, connect, represent and support such a diverse range of fantastic businesses and work with the brilliant Chamber team. Ever since I set up my own company in my early twenties, I’ve always been passionate about business and the region I’m proud to call home.
“Over the past two years I’ve seen first hand the challenges and opportunities that Covid-19 has presented to business and it is important to collaborate with stakeholders and be creative to make this part of the world the most attractive place in the UK to do business.
“I’d like to thank the board for putting their faith in me and to Sandy (Needham) who has done a fantastic job over many years. She will be a tough act to follow but it will be a privilege to carry on her excellent work.”
Chair of the West & North Yorkshire Chamber, Amanda Beresford, added: “We are delighted that James is joining as Chief Executive as we prepare to mark the end of a 25-year era with Sandy at the helm.
“James’ passion for and knowledge of our region, combined with his experience as a business owner and leader, will ensure the all-important stability and growth needed not only for our post-pandemic business community but also for members of our organisation, which has been supporting and representing businesses for 170 years.”
James’ appointment follows the announcement last November, of the retirement of Sandy Needham, who joined Chamber Management Services, a company jointly owned by the Chambers of Bradford, Leeds and York and North Yorkshire, in 1997 before becoming Chief Executive of Bradford Chamber in 2001. Sandy went on to head up the West & North Yorkshire Chamber following the successful merger of the three Chambers in 2014.
New dawn rises for Scunthorpe high street as green light given for radical transformation
A new future for Scunthorpe town centre will be created as plans for a revolutionary new high-street concept have been given the go ahead.
Planning permission has been granted for a new enterprise and innovation hub, paving the way for a radical shift in the way people use the town centre.
The multi-million-pound development, backed with Government cash, will create a unique, high-quality place for businesses, bringing new jobs and new people into the town centre.
The project includes a 46-bed unit for young professionals and medical students – locating more people in the town centre for more reasons.
Cllr Rob Waltham, leader, North Lincolnshire Council and Towns Fund Board Member, said: “This is an important milestone in the latest plans to create a new future for Scunthorpe’s town centre and evidence of levelling-up happening here.
“Now with planning permission in place residents will start to see progress on this ground-breaking development very soon – I am genuinely excited.
“Building the enterprise and innovation hub is a huge part of our vision to attract new businesses and new jobs. The heart of the vision is to create a vibrant place which attracts a wide range of people, from shoppers and families and young professionals.”
The innovation hub is one of several projects being delivered to transform Scunthorpe and create a different future. The schemes, backed by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, come with more than £30m investment through the Towns Fund and Future High Streets Fund.
They include delivering gigabit broadband to hundreds of businesses, creating an advanced manufacturing park, delivering green energy schemes for schools and community buildings, new cultural experiences, a blue light facility, and hundreds of new homes.
The plans are designed to stimulate the creation of more, better-paid jobs, driving prosperity and ensuring a new future for people who live locally.
In the town centre, the plans are designed to counter the pressures on the traditional “high street” as it faces unprecedented change with shoppers increasingly moving online.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), in 2006 online sales as a percentage of total retail spend peaked at 2.8 per cent. It has risen every year since, peaking in January 2021 at 37 per cent as the COVID-19 pandemic drove massive change in consumer habits.
Dr Faisel Baig, chair of NHS North Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group and local GP, said: “This is fantastic news for Scunthorpe. There are wider determinants that can help improve the health of a population – determinants such as employment, income, housing, education, working environment and the general environment.
“This exciting project gives us an opportunity to address some of these determinants and make Scunthorpe, and the wider area, a more healthy place. We know economic hardship links to poor health and that’s why these developments are exciting as they will bring more employment to the area.
“In a digital age, giving people a reason to get out of the house and visit Scunthorpe town centre is really important. It means people are out in the fresh air, walking into town or through town and these alone have huge benefits on health and mental wellbeing.”
Dr Baig, who is also chair of the Scunthorpe Town Fund Board, added: “The environment around us is so important if we want a healthy population. We have a wonderfully diverse population here in North Lincolnshire and we must ensure every community has equal access to these opportunities.”
Holly Mumby Croft, MP for Scunthorpe, and deputy chair of the Towns Fund Board said: “This is a major step forward in delivering the money that Government has given us for Scunthorpe.
“It is more than £10m of direct investment which is being spent to create a new future which includes homes for medical students and to jobs for local people in the town centre.”
A contractor is set to be appointed to lead the construction of the hub, which will offer more than 27,000 sq ft of outstanding office space specially designed to support collaborative working, as well as workshops, business development areas and an attractive communal courtyard.
Alongside this a licensed café and bar will provide a premium space for networking and post-work drinks by night.
With work also driving forward to create the second phase of an urban park in Church Square, it is an exciting time in Scunthorpe’s transformation.
Cllr Waltham added: “We worked closely with Scunthorpe MP Holly Mumby-Croft to secure the cash from the Government, with that backing and planning permission now obtained, I, like many, cannot wait to see the plans take shape.”
