Sheffield Forgemasters makes senior appointments
South Yorkshire specialist engineering company, Sheffield Forgemasters, has completed two key leadership appointments.
Craig Fisher takes on the role of Programme Director, overseeing the company’s substantial recapitalisation programme, and Ken Stevenson joins as Strategy and Transformation Director, responsible for the company’s overall business strategy.
Both directors bring high levels of experience to their respective roles and will oversee significant levels of change for the 200 plus year-old business, as it reshapes under Ministry of Defence ownership.
Gary Nutter, Chief Executive Officer at Sheffield Forgemasters, said: “The appointment of two key directors to oversee both physical, and operational changes for the company’s ongoing evolution, is an important development for us.
“Craig Fisher will deliver the investments made by our owners, to create a whole new forging line and to build a world-leading machining facility, which will transform the speed, accuracy and delivery of some of the world’s most complex forgings and castings.
“Ken Stevenson’s role is to work with the leadership team to deliver the strategy and business plan for the company, which will set out our aims, objectives, values and vision for the next several decades of manufacturing across defence and commercial markets.
“They will take responsibility for some crucially important projects to ensure that we deliver against our stakeholder commitments as we build an exciting future for UK manufacturing.”
Craig Fisher joins the company from a former role as Head of Delivery/Programme Director for Aerospace, Defence & Energy (Mott MacDonald Bentley) working for Rolls-Royce, delivering on a £2bn investment programme.
He also previously acted as Project Director for Anglian Water Services’ Strategic Pipeline Alliance for one of the country’s largest infrastructure programmes with an investment of c£1bn over five years.
Ken Stevenson worked as a consultant to Sheffield Forgemasters, advising the company on its MoD acquisition and transition into public ownership over a period of three years.
He formerly served with Rolls-Royce, leading several strategic change programmes, most recently in the Civil Aerospace division, responsible for the successful delivery of a major global cross-Civil Aerospace transformational programme.
Stafforce Training supports North Lincolnshire Women’s Aid volunteers with life-saving first aid skills
Stafforce Training, a provider of vocational training solutions, has demonstrated its commitment to community welfare by providing essential First Aid training to volunteers working in charity shops in support of North Lincolnshire Women’s Aid.
The training initiative was offered completely free of charge and equipped 12 volunteers with crucial life-saving skills, enhancing their capacity to respond effectively to emergencies.
Stafforce Training recognised the critical need for comprehensive First Aid knowledge among volunteers, especially when dealing with the general public in their retail outlets. As part of giving back to the communities they operate in, they offered North Lincolnshire Women’s Aid training free of charge.
“Ensuring the safety and well-being of volunteers and customers is paramount, especially in retail environments like North Lincolnshire Women’s Aid shops,” said Rose Heritage, Business Manager at Stafforce Training. “By offering our expertise in First Aid training, we aim to empower volunteers with the necessary skills to respond effectively to emergencies and provide immediate assistance when needed.”
The First Aid training, conducted by certified instructors from Stafforce Training, covered essential topics such as CPR, wound management, and emergency response procedures. The tailored program emphasised practical scenarios and hands-on training to ensure volunteers gained confidence and competence in their ability to handle various emergencies.
“We are immensely grateful to Stafforce Training for their generous contribution towards enhancing our volunteers’ capabilities,” expressed Denise Farman, CEO at North Lincolnshire Women’s Aid. “The First Aid training not only equips our volunteers with life-saving skills but also instils a sense of confidence and preparedness.”
The 12 volunteers who participated in the training program at North Lincolnshire Women’s Aid are now equipped to provide immediate assistance in emergency situations, helping to keep customers safe when shopping in stores.
Partner promotion for Lupton Fawcett private client specialist
Yorkshire law firm Lupton Fawcett has promoted one of its senior associates in its private client team to partner.
Charlene Vilia, who has been with the firm since 2021, specialises in all aspects of pre and post-death private client work. Her expertise includes the preparation of wills, inheritance tax planning, preparing and registering Lasting Powers of Attorney and registering Enduring Powers of Attorney.
She has a varied caseload of clients both locally and further afield and deals with all aspects of estate administration, acting for executors and administrators following bereavement where the deceased has left a will and when they have passed away intestate. Charlene qualified as a solicitor in 2012 and is based at the firm’s Sheffield office.
Charlene said: “I am delighted to have been promoted to partner at Lupton Fawcett and grateful to the firm for the opportunities and support that they have provided to me. I am excited to play a key part in the firm’s ongoing success in the future and the expansion of our private client services.”
In her new position, Charlene will focus on providing exceptional client care and service throughout the Sheffield area while raising the profile of Lupton Fawcett’s private client services in the region. She will also play a key role in supporting and expanding the firm’s growing private client team in Sheffield.
James Richardson, managing partner, said: “Charlene is a welcome addition to the partner team; she is known for her friendly and approachable service and always goes the extra mile for clients.
“Her promotion underscores our commitment to recognising and nurturing talent within the firm.”
Libertine Holdings enters into bridging loan agreement
Libertine Holdings, a Sheffield-based developer of Linear Generator technology, has entered into a bridging loan agreement with Reliant FZCO to support the finalisation of new investment.
It follows news earlier this week that Libertine Holdings was set to engage an insolvency practitioner following a failure to secure short-term funding while it waited to receive a £2m investment from investors in India and the UAE (Corporate International Financial Services Ltd and Reliant FZCO).Under the terms of the bridging loan agreement, Reliant FZCO will provide two tranches of £110,000. The first tranche is expected to be received on 16 August and the second tranche is expected to be received on 14 September, to support the working capital requirements of the business.
It is intended that the conditional subscription agreement entered into between the company and Corporate International Financial Services Limited will be terminated. Instead it is intended that Reliant FZCO and the company will vary the terms of their original conditional subscription agreement to increase Reliant FZCO’s subscription from £1m to £2m.Libertine Holdings noted that given the company’s financial situation, and the timing uncertainty around the receipt of funds, the Board still plans to engage an insolvency practitioner to seek advice on the appropriate next steps.
Trading in the company’s ordinary shares on AIM continues to be suspended.
Yorkshire & Humber Institute of Technology gets government backing for further 10 years
Yorkshire & Humber Institute of Technology (YHIoT) has become the first Institute of Technology (IoT) in the country to be relicensed by the Department for Education (DfE).
The relicensing, which will see YHIoT continue its work for another 10 years, demonstrates the government’s commitment to IoTs and supporting the growth of STEM industries.
It will allow YHIoT to continue working collaboratively with STEM learners, education providers and employers in the region to create opportunities for students and employers, as well as support regional economic growth.
Danny Metters, Chair of YHIoT, said: “This is an exciting time where we can shape the future of YHIoT, by creating stronger links with STEM industries and the communities we serve and investing in our students – who are the future workforce.
“This relicensing really shows the value of YHIoT and the power of collaboration as we work to meet the higher level skills agenda for now and the future.”
Revised Harrogate Station Gateway plans unveiled
Major changes to the Station Gateway plan for Harrogate town centre have been shared with the public as the scheme takes a key step forward.
The £11 million scheme, under the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF), aims to boost access to Harrogate’s rail and bus stations and deliver improvements to nearby public spaces.
It is part of a £44.6 million investment in North Yorkshire, which will also see a series of improvements in Selby and Skipton.
As part of the statutory process, North Yorkshire Council are formally consulting on the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) required for the scheme on Station Parade.
The council have also published new visuals to represent the revised scheme, which was agreed by the executive in November last year.
Cllr Keane Duncan, executive member for highways and transport, said: “We have listened to public views and worked extensively on a cross-party basis with local councillors to revise the Gateway plan.
“The original scheme has been reviewed following this feedback, with Station Parade remaining open to two lanes of traffic and with no pedestrianisation of James Street.
“It represents a proposal that is deliverable and with significant benefits for all transport users: motorists, cyclists, public transport passengers and pedestrians.”
He added: “The scheme hopes to deliver high-quality public realm improvements to transform this key area of the town centre. It would see One Arch and Station Square transformed with new paving, trees, planting and lighting.
“We plan to introduce improvements for pedestrians, a short southbound cycle lane on Station Parade and a new bus lane to allow easier and quicker access to the station.
“Meanwhile, we will use innovative technology to improve the flow of traffic in this congested corridor. It means that the many crossings and traffic lights will be improved and coordinated.”
There will be additional cycle parking, including covered parking close to the bus and railway stations, greater use of high-quality materials, such as Yorkshire stone paving, and feature lighting to make the town centre more appealing in the evening.
The scheme maintains taxi ranks in Station Parade, prioritises disabled parking and makes key improvements for pedestrians so access to the stations is easier and more direct.
The advertisement of the Traffic Regulation Order is one of the final stages before work on the multi-million-pound investment scheme can begin.
Following the completion of the Traffic Regulation Order process, the scheme will need formal sign off from the Department for Transport (DfT) and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) before work can begin in the autumn.
Once work has started, it is anticipated to be completed by the spring of 2026.
Details of the Traffic Regulation Order can be found online or paper copies are available at Harrogate Civic Centre and Harrogate Library.
Evelyn Partners to acquire Haines Watts’ Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle offices
Evelyn Partners, the wealth management and professional services group, has come to an agreement to acquire the northern city offices of Haines Watts, comprising Manchester, Leeds, and Newcastle. The teams in these locations provide a wide range of services and solutions to support entrepreneurial, owner-managed businesses.
The acquisition will bring five partners, nine directors, and over 150 colleagues from Haines Watts into Evelyn Partners’ Professional Services business, significantly strengthening its presence in the north of England.
The deal represents the sixth acquisition for Evelyn Partners’ Professional Services business since the start of 2023, as it seeks to augment its strong organic growth and broaden its geographic footprint by adding high quality firms with complementary expertise.
Andrew Wilkes, Chief Professional Services Director of Evelyn Partners, said: “We are delighted to welcome the team and clients of these three former Haines Watts offices to Evelyn Partners.
“The team, led by Donna Bulmer, are high-quality professionals with a long-standing track record of giving clients the best possible tax advice and accountancy solutions. Their approach of providing a fully supportive, personal service and building long-standing relationships with clients is very much in line with our culture at Evelyn Partners.
“This acquisition continues our strategy of expanding the number of business and private clients we provide our professional services to in the north of England.”
Donna Bulmer, Managing Partner of Haines Watts, said: “This is an exciting time for our clients and our team as we join forces with our new colleagues at Evelyn Partners. We see a great cultural fit that will ensure we continue to deliver high service levels to our clients, whilst creating fantastic opportunities for our team.”
Aggregate Industries enhances local sea defences
Aggregate Industries, a building materials supplier, has delivered 89,000 tonnes of rock armour as part of the Environment Agency’s £29 million Stallingborough Sea Defence Improvement Scheme.
Aiming to enhance coastal defences and protect critical infrastructure along the Humber Estuary, between the ports of Immingham and Grimsby, this ambitious project required 70,000 tonnes of granite to be shipped from Aggregate Industries’ Glensanda superquarry in Western Scotland via Immingham Dock.
The granite, with each piece weighing between 0.3 to 1.0 tonnes, made its two-day sea voyage aboard the 90-meter-long Hagland Saga. Each of the 17 shipments carried approximately 4,500 tonnes. Upon arrival at Immingham, the cargo was swiftly offloaded and transported by road to the Stallingborough project site.
Additionally, 19,000 tonnes of smaller grade rock armour, ranging from 60kg to 300kg, were sourced from the firm’s Bardon Hill quarry in Leicestershire and delivered in approximately 700-tonne loads.
In collaboration with Jackson Civil Engineering, Aggregate Industries ensured a seamless delivery, overcoming challenges such as unpredictable docking times and the migration of vital bird species which limit works within the designated Humber Estuary site between April and September every year.
Nick Gilbert, business development manager for Aggregate Industries, adds: “We are proud to have played a crucial role in protecting Stallingborough and its surrounding areas.
“Our comprehensive network and methods enabled us to meet the logistical challenges of this complex and reactive project which effectively saw the equivalent of a quarter of the Humber Bridge’s tonnage seamlessly delivered and discharged, directly contributing to the safety and resilience of the local community.”
The Stallingborough Sea Defence Improvement Scheme is the third phase of ongoing coastal improvements and is designed to provide a further 25-year design life to the current flood defence embankments.
This project will see the repair and fortification of a 4.5km stretch – including some 3km of rock armour – with the works comprising resealing and improvements of existing revetments, some of which date back to the 1953 North Sea flood. This effort will safeguard 2,300 homes, vital infrastructure and industry, as well as precious habitats in the Stallingborough area.
Nigel Priestley, Senior Project Manager for the Environment Agency, said: “Aggregate Industries have provided a great service to Jackson and the Environment Agency by supplying the smaller rock to allow installation to commence in 2023, and then the larger rock from Oban, through the winter, impacted by numerous storms, in time for a March 2024 start.
“The option to deliver by boat from the UK has also saved a significant amount of carbon too and minimised transportation by road.”
The granite used in this project, known for its durability and longevity, is an ideal material for modern sea defences. With a lifespan exceeding 100 years, these specialist aggregates are designed to withstand harsh weather conditions and dissipate wave energy, mitigating soil erosion and maintaining the natural integrity of the landscape.
Beyond its protective capabilities, the rock armour also promotes vegetation growth and facilitates habitat creation, aligning with Aggregate Industries’ commitment to environmental sustainability.
Yorkshire IT company gets boost from Theo Paphitis
A Cross Hills-based firm has received recognition and a business boost from retail guru Theo Paphitis.
Last week, Sara Haggas, Sales and Marketing Manager at Comprendo, posted about the business on the former Dragon’s Den star’s Instagram account during ‘Small Business Sunday’. As a result, Comprendo became one of six weekly winners to receive a repost to his half a million+ Twitter and Instagram followers.
The weekly initiative, set up by Paphitis in 2010, has created a network of over 3,500 Small Business Sunday winners championing small businesses throughout the UK.
Theo Paphitis, Chairman of Ryman Stationery, Robert Dyas and Boux Avenue, said: “We are thrilled to welcome new #SBS members every week to highlight just how important it is to support our small businesses here in the UK. My vision is that everyone who has ever won an #SBS re-tweet from me becomes part of a friendly club of like-minded individuals who can share successes and learnings. The website also gives a valuable profile to the winners chosen. I wish Comprendo every success.”
Comprendo specialises in providing remote desktop solutions for SMEs enabling users remote access to their data and systems. The firm services clients not only in its locality of Yorkshire and Lancashire, but across the UK.
Sara’s post on Small Business Sunday had referenced the recent global IT carnage caused by an erroneous software update, reflecting that “it has made us think carefully about the trust and confidence our clients put in us to keep their businesses running smoothly and efficiently every day of the year.”
Director, Daniel Hildred, said: “We’re delighted to have this sentiment from Comprendo recognised by Theo and very much value his support and the exposure that joining other #SBS winners will provide.”
South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority awarded £3m for Skills Bootcamps
The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) has been awarded £3m from the Department for Education to continue and expand its Skills Bootcamps provision across the region.
Skills Bootcamps form part of the Government’s Skills for Life strategy, designed to help those aged 19+ onto the career ladder, transition back into work or progress in work while also helping employers meet skills needs across the region.
The courses are flexible and can last up to 16 weeks, whilst providing individuals with the opportunity to build up sector-specific skills and an offer of a guaranteed interview with a local employer upon completion of the course.
Skills Bootcamps are a great opportunity for South Yorkshire residents to upskill and explore new careers opportunities in a variety of sectors.
Designed with employers, Skills Bootcamps courses are aligned to industry needs, bridging the gap between the regional skills demand and its supply.
Oliver Coppard, South Yorkshire’s Mayor, said: “This next set of funding is a huge achievement in helping to address the skills requirements of South Yorkshire.
“This next wave of Skills Bootcamps is another vital step towards us meeting the skills gaps across our communities and help us on our journey to creating not just a bigger economy, but a better economy.”
