Secretary of State promises support for UK steel industry
Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds has pledged Government support for Britain’s steelmakers.
At a Steel Summit in Parliament Mr Reynolds said the strategy, due for publication next spring, would be a turning point for the industry.
The event was organised by our trade body UK Steel and brought together key industry figures to discuss the measures required to help the sector thrive. The industry wants a competitive business landscape to attract additional investment, a level playing field to give industry a fair chance to gain market share, and strategic expansion of steelmaking capacity and capability.
British Steel’s Strategy and Marketing Director Lisa Coulson said: “The UK needs a strong and vibrant steel industry and British Steel plans to be at the centre of it – ensuring the UK’s infrastructure needs are met.
“We are the UK’s only manufacturer of rail and heavy sections for construction, and our highly-skilled colleagues also excel in making wire rod and special profiles.
“We were pleased to hear the Secretary of State outline the Government’s commitment to this country’s steel industry.
“Together we look forward to continuing to work with the Government, and our fellow British steel companies, to ensure we build a sustainable future for this country’s steelmakers, our employees, and thousands of more people in our supply chains.”
Prep work starts on South Yorkshire manufacturing base for revolutionary aircraft
Hybrid Air Vehicles has begun survey and preparatory work in readiness to build its revolutionary new aircraft on a 50-hectare site at Carcroft Common in Doncaster.
It’s the Airlander 10, which will be able to carry 100 passengers mobility or a ten-tonne payload of freight
The step comes after work in partnership with the City of Doncaster Council to release the first instalment of a £7m loan from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.
The is planned to house flagship facilities for Airlander 10’s production, testing and certification operations, and be able to build up to 24 aircraft per year.
It is also expected to establish new supply chains within the South Yorkshire Investment Zone and open up more than 1,200 new, highly-skilled green jobs in the region.
Nick Allman, COO of Hybrid Air Vehicles, said: “We welcome the release of the first instalment of the £7m loan from SYMCA. Alongside the investment that we are bringing to this programme, it allows our team to progress the planning permission submission for the Airlander 10 production site at Carcroft Common, advancing several steps on our production site such as completing surveys and ground investigations, as well as engaging key design and planning suppliers.
“This is a major step in creating a pioneering facility to assemble fleets of Airlander 10 aircraft, as well as establishing a hub for advanced manufacturing and sustainable aviation in Doncaster, bringing with it new opportunities, jobs and apprenticeships in South Yorkshire.”
The company has now opened an office at Cavendish Court in Doncaster to establish a presence in the city and provide a base for HAV employees while work gets under way at the Carcroft Common site.
Accident management specialist moves to larger premises at Dean Clough
Dean Clough-based accident management solutions company Activate Group has moved to a 50% larger space at the Halifax complex.
The Group has relocated from existing premises at Dean Clough to support expansion.
Founded in 2015 Activate Group employs more than 700 people nationwide, providing end-to-end accident management services to the fleet and insurance industries. Clients include Tesco, AXA, Holman, Direct line, Marshmallow and RSA.
Earlier this year Activate Group announced a major investment deal with Elysian Capital to fuel rapid growth plans for the business. This includes investment in expanding its headquarters at Dean Clough.
Adrian Furness, Managing Director at Activate Group, said: “We are pleased to be able to expand our headquarters whilst maintaining our established presence a Dean Clough. The historic mill complex has been home to Activate Group since inception and delivers a plethora of exceptional spaces and amenity for our team.
“Halifax itself is one of the biggest providers of insurance services in the UK and provides us with unparalleled opportunities for growth. We are expanding our presence here because of the incredible talent pipeline and the town’s commitment to nurturing skills through partnerships with local schools, colleges, and apprenticeship programmes.
“The Dean Clough team knew exactly what we wanted with our upgrade and presented several options. They supported us through every step, helping to make the process straightforward.”
Activate Group has relocated from a 9,000 sq ft premises in F Mill to 14,000 sq ft of refurbished, space in D Mill at Dean Clough.
Forgemasters names 23 new apprentices
Sheffield Forgemasters is taking on 23 new apprentices for a variety of roles in the developing work done by the business.
They will start at a variety of levels as part of the delivery of complex components for the UK defence programme, including for the new SSN-AUKUS submarine, which will replace Astute Class vessels.
Emily Wynne, People Development Advisor – Early Careers, said: “We are continuing to seek out the best candidates for our apprenticeships programme as we look to upskill the next generation of employees and to preserve the skills we already have.
“The company’s transformation covers both its physical assets and its skill set as we move into a high-technology engineering sphere.
“We need to adapt our capabilities to meet the future demands of our defence work, but we are also expanding in areas such as civil nuclear and renewable energy and require a workforce that will be trained to understand and exploit the very different technologies and workplace that recapitalisation will deliver.
“It is great to welcome these new starters to our site for the first time and to see so much enthusiasm for their future careers.”
Sheffield Forgemasters is investing heavily over the next ten years to support defence-critical assets, including a new 13,000 tonne Forge line and building, 17 major machine tool replacements within a new, 30,000m2 machining facility, which will be unmatched outside of the UK.
Emily added: “Sheffield Forgemasters’ apprenticeship programme is recognised as one of the best across the region, and to be able to provide future generations with the opportunity to have an exciting, meaningful career with skills which are for life, is extremely rewarding to us.
“As we welcome the new apprentices, we are already working on a recruitment drive for our 2025 apprentice intake, which will be launched in the coming months via the company website and social media channels.”
This year’s apprentices intake covers roles in the following disciplines; Site Services, Machining, Non Destructive Testing, Projects, Quality Control, Work Rolls, IT, Recapitalisation, Distribution, Test House and Finance and includes one degree apprentice, studying Metallurgy at Sheffield Hallam University.
APSS named finalists in Lincolnshire Construction and Property Awards 2025
Commercial design and fit out company APSS has been named as finalists in both the Design Consultant of the Year and Development Project of the Year (Under £5m) categories for the Lincolnshire Construction and Property Awards 2025, cementing its reputation as a leader in innovative design and development in the region.
Organised by the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce, the awards celebrate excellence, innovation, and sustainability in the construction and property sector. APSS’s nominations highlight its dedication to delivering creative, client-focused solutions that combine cutting-edge design with practical functionality.
Recognition for Exceptional Design
The nomination for Design Consultant of the Year in conjunction with Bainland Lodge Retreats, underscores APSS’s commitment to providing tailored, high-quality design services.
“Our team takes immense pride in creating designs that not only look stunning but also enhance functionality and user experience,” said Laurence Barrass, Managing Director of APSS. “Being named finalists in this category is a testament to the creativity and hard work of our talented designers.”
Spotlight on Development Excellence
The second nomination, Development Project of the Year (under £5m), celebrates the standout project of LEW Electrical Distributors’ new headquarters in Gainsborough. It showcases APSS’s expertise in project management and execution. The project, completed earlier this year, exemplifies APSS’s ability to transform spaces while meeting the highest standards of sustainability and efficiency.
Stuart Marsland, Sales Director for APSS, said: “This project truly reflects our ethos of combining visionary design with practical implementation. Being recognised in this category is a huge honour and validates the efforts of everyone involved.”
Innovation and Collaboration at the Core
At the heart of APSS’s success lies a dedication to fostering strong partnerships with clients and stakeholders. The company’s collaborative approach ensures that every project is tailored to the client’s unique requirements, resulting in spaces that are not only visually striking but also highly functional and future-ready.
Over the past year, APSS has placed a particular emphasis on sustainable design and development, incorporating eco-friendly materials and practices into its projects.
Laurence added: “We are thrilled to be finalists in these awards. It’s a reflection of the hard work, creativity, and passion that drives our entire team. At APSS, we strive to deliver excellence in everything we do, and these nominations highlight the impact we’re making in the Lincolnshire construction and property sector. Regardless of the outcome, we are incredibly proud to be recognised alongside some of the Lincolnshire’s best.”
“Our team takes immense pride in creating designs that not only look stunning but also enhance functionality and user experience,” said Laurence Barrass, Managing Director of APSS. “Being named finalists in this category is a testament to the creativity and hard work of our talented designers.”
Spotlight on Development Excellence
The second nomination, Development Project of the Year (under £5m), celebrates the standout project of LEW Electrical Distributors’ new headquarters in Gainsborough. It showcases APSS’s expertise in project management and execution. The project, completed earlier this year, exemplifies APSS’s ability to transform spaces while meeting the highest standards of sustainability and efficiency.
Stuart Marsland, Sales Director for APSS, said: “This project truly reflects our ethos of combining visionary design with practical implementation. Being recognised in this category is a huge honour and validates the efforts of everyone involved.”
Innovation and Collaboration at the Core
At the heart of APSS’s success lies a dedication to fostering strong partnerships with clients and stakeholders. The company’s collaborative approach ensures that every project is tailored to the client’s unique requirements, resulting in spaces that are not only visually striking but also highly functional and future-ready.
Over the past year, APSS has placed a particular emphasis on sustainable design and development, incorporating eco-friendly materials and practices into its projects.
Laurence added: “We are thrilled to be finalists in these awards. It’s a reflection of the hard work, creativity, and passion that drives our entire team. At APSS, we strive to deliver excellence in everything we do, and these nominations highlight the impact we’re making in the Lincolnshire construction and property sector. Regardless of the outcome, we are incredibly proud to be recognised alongside some of the Lincolnshire’s best.” Jobs saved as manufacturer of decorating sundries sold
Enact Fund II, the UK special situations fund managed by Endless LLP, has sold Bartoline Limited, the Beverley-based manufacturer of decorating sundries for the home improvement industry, to Paramount Retail Group Holdings Limited.
The management team of Bartoline has been working with advisors in recent weeks to review options for the company, in view of the very significant trading challenges that it continues to face.
Yesterday (3 December) Jonny Marston and Joanna Bull of professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal Europe LLP were appointed as Joint Administrators to the company.
Immediately following the appointment, Bartoline has been sold to Paramount via a pre-packaged deal process. Paramount is acquiring the business and assets of Bartoline, and all staff will move under TUPE to the new owner, preserving the jobs of 89 employees.
Bartoline was originally an investment by Enact Fund II in March 2021 to support its growth ambitions.
While sales volumes for Bartoline in the immediate post-Covid period declined as expected, it has not been possible to fully reflect higher labour and raw material costs in more recent pricing, which has inevitably impacted cash flow.
Jonny Marston, Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal, said: “Bartoline had been heavily impacted by challenging market conditions, which has been experienced across several sectors in the wake of the pandemic.
“We are delighted to have completed a sale to Paramount which will see the business continue to operate from its base in Beverley, safeguarding all jobs.”
Chris Cormack, Partner of Bartoline’s majority shareholder, Enact Fund II, said: “We have been very supportive of the business, investing significant capital and time since acquiring Bartoline in 2021. We worked closely with management to recruit additional skills and experience, as well as backing an expansion of production capacity.
“However, a more normalised post-Covid revenue profile has been unable to absorb higher costs beyond the company’s control. We wish the management and staff of Bartoline well as they enter a new phase of recovery under a new owner.”
Danieli lets former Rotherham business park base to medical equipment manufacturer
Process equipment supplier to the metals industry Danieli has let its former Rotherham business park base to a medical equipment manufacturer which is expanding its global footprint.
Wassenburg Ltd, which is a world leader in manufacturing endoscope reprocessing products and solutions, has taken a five-year lease, at a headline rent of £8.95 per sq ft, of a 10,900 sq ft modern warehouse and office unit at Ignite @ Magna Business Park.
Danieli recently relocated to the Advanced Manufacturing Park in a new purpose-built office, laboratory and distribution centre and joins occupiers including Rolls-Royce and the UK Atomic Energy Authority and McLaren Automotive.
Andrew Betts, Managing Director of Danieli, said: “As part of Danieli’s relocation to the Advanced Manufacturing Park following significant expansion, Knight Frank was appointed to market our former premises which offered a high quality, industrial/business unit, with above average office content.
“Following strong interest, a letting to Wassenburg was agreed and Nick Wales of Knight Frank Sheffield has been retained to sell the investment.”
Rebecca Schofield of Knight Frank, who dealt with the letting, said: “The Ignite at Magna Development continues to prove popular; the premises are of high quality and are well located with easy access to J33 and 34 M1.
“Unit 4 Ignite was well received to the market and the layout and fit out proved attractive to occupiers. Wassenburg was attracted to the quality of the unit and the split between office and warehouse space, and it is great to see them relocate and expand in the area.”
Rakesh Javer, Managing Director at Wassenburg, added: “We are delighted to relocate to Unit 4 Ignite. The high-quality facilities and strategic location provide the perfect base for our operations as we continue to expand and serve our customers more effectively.”
Refurbishment of Temple Mill gate lodge completes, testing repair solution prototype for Temple Works
Property development and investment company, CEG, has completed the extensive refurbishment of the Grade II* listed Gate Lodge, located adjacent to Temple Mill with its famous Egyptian façade.
The extensive programme of repair work was designed to seek the removal of the building from the Historic England Heritage at Risk Register in its 2025 publication. The project was also a prototype for the masonry repair of the Mill’s east elevation.
CEG’s project manager, Aaron Duggan, explains: “Our specialist team started work on the Grade II* listed Gate Lodge in spring 2023, with the key ambition of seeing the building’s removal from the Heritage At Risk Register next year.
“We have opened up the structure, removed the remnant roof slab, repaired, repointed and pinned fractured masonry, replaced corroded cast iron ties and reinstated the roof structure before laying a modern roof covering and fitting sash windows and new doors.”
The works were made possible due to a funding contribution from Historic England. CEG was supported by a team including contractor Pinnacle Conservation Limited, principal designer, Sycamore Square Group, ARUP’s structural engineers and Stephen Levrant Heritage Architecture.
Giles Proctor, Historic England Architect, said: “The successful restoration of the Gate Lodge marks a significant milestone for the Temple Works site. Through our funding support and working alongside CEG and their specialist team, we’re proud to have helped secure the future of this important historic building
“The high-quality conservation work undertaken gives us confidence that the Gate Lodge will be removed from the Heritage at Risk Register in 2025, ensuring it can be enjoyed by future generations.”
Multi-million pound deal sealed for 14-acre Hull site
Investors have snapped up a 14-acre site in Hull’s growing industrial, manufacturing and renewables sector heartlands in a multi-million pound deal.
The Century Yard site is opposite Green Port Hull on Hedon Road, where Siemens, alongside Associated British Ports (ABP) and Hull City Council, have invested more than £300m into creating wealth and employment for the region.
Now, commercial property specialists Garness Jones have overseen a deal which has seen another sprawling industrial site sold to BVG Property Investments.
Managing Director David Garness says it offers ‘a land of opportunity’ to its new owners: “This has been a very pleasing deal to be involved with at Garness Jones as it is rare for the freehold of a site of this size, in a location of such strategic importance to the region with regards to its proximity to the dock facilities, Green Port Hull and other major businesses, to become available on the market.
“Having gone to market an excellent price was secured for the vendor, and it really is a land of opportunity for BVG Property Investments, an expanding commercial property company who now have this site which has more than seven acres still undeveloped.”
BVG Property Investments have now also instructed Garness Jones to act for them in an advisory role to help develop the site.
“We are delighted that the new owners have asked us to work in partnership with them moving forward to make sure their investment is maximized, along with providing support on a number of other property projects,” added Mr Garness.
“Not only have they purchased a site which is already home to a number of businesses and generating excellent rental income from tenants, but one which is at the nerve centre of many growing industries in our region.
“It is a prime spot to attract businesses looking at what is happening in Hull and the East Riding and considering investing in the region, at a time when we are set to benefit from further growth as a result of the recently agreed £400m devolution deal.
“As the city and region is set to benefit from new investment, it is essential that facilities are provided to ensure we attract and retain businesses in growth sectors. We look forward to working together on the development of Century Yard over the coming years.”
New initiative aims to highlight the benefits of T Level students
“With long-standing skill shortages often holding our sector back, we see T Levels as an opportunity to develop the manufacturers of tomorrow and ensure businesses have the talent they need to thrive.”
