Yorkshire law firm Gordons appointed by Iceland Foods on all property matters
Retail specialist law firm Gordons has been granted exclusivity by Iceland Foods to advise on all the British food retailer’s property matters.
Founded in 1970 and with its head office in Deeside, Flintshire, Iceland has been a Gordons client since 2015. The retailer has more than 1,000 stores throughout the UK.
Gordons previously predominantly advised on Iceland’s store acquisitions but now has the overall property mandate to act on Iceland’s behalf.
Iceland Foods group chief executive, Tarsem Dhaliwal, said: “We rate Gordons highly. They understand our business and how we need to operate to enable continued success.
“Appointing them on an exclusive basis for our property work is a natural evolution of our relationship. It is also testimony to the commercial outlook of the firm which is most evident in my discussions with Gordons senior partner, Paul Ayre.”
Commenting on the announcement, Paul Ayre said: “We’re delighted with this appointment. Relationships and results are the foundations for successful client partnerships at Gordons and this has been the case from the outset with Tarsem and Iceland.”
Tyre specialist signs 10-year lease on Wakefield industrial unit
Bush Tyres (B.A. Bush & Son Limited), the independent tyre specialists, has signed a 10-year lease on an industrial unit in Wakefield, as the firm gears up for further expansion across the North of England. The news comes just three months after Bush Tyres opened its first branch in the city.
Located at Unit 3 Flanshaw Industrial Estate, Wakefield, the Towngate PLC-owned property comprises a 6,437 sq ft (598.05 sq m) trade counter unit, set to aid the company’s service delivery over the next decade of letting.
Matthew Lincoln, general manager at Bush Tyres, says: “Our ‘quality at all costs’ philosophy underpins everything we do at Bush Tyres. Choosing the right locations to expand our footprint is a significant part of that promise — ensuring we not only deliver exceptional products and services but that our expertise is timely and accessible too.
“Situated just a few miles west of Wakefield city centre, and less than half a mile from Junction 40 of the M1 motorway, the space forms part of a busy and thriving industrial area, with excellent connections to partners and suppliers. We’re confident this investment will help us deliver exactly that.”
“We are delighted to have been able to offer a solution to aid Bush Tyres’ expansion plans,” adds Tom Lamb, property manager at Towngate PLC. “It is a pleasure to welcome them to Flanshaw Industrial Estate.”
Tourism was worth £4bn to North Yorkshire last year, says report
Tourism contributed more than £4 billion to North Yorkshire’s economy last year, attracting more than 31 million people to the county.
Figures just out highlight a strong outlook for the sector, as the summer holiday season gets underway with the average length of stay for visitors in North Yorkshire being four nights and surpassing the national average of 2.8 nights as recorded by Visit England.
The report also demonstrates how the local tourism industry supports 38,486 jobs through direct and indirect employment making up 13 per cent of all employment across North Yorkshire.
The figures have been collected for the first time on a county-wide scale using the STEAM model, which measures the economic impact of visits to an area. This provides an important baseline for the future growth of the sector.
North Yorkshire Council leader Carl Les said: “The release of these new figures not only confirms the importance of tourism to our local economy, but it also provides a baseline to work from as we begin an exciting new journey for the visitor economy in North Yorkshire.
“The value of the visitor economy must not be underestimated which is why we have made it a priority for us. It supports tens of thousands of jobs and sees visitors come to the county from across the world, and we are committed to ensuring that the sector continues to grow.”
Simon Wright, who is the general manager at the Burgoyne Hotel in Reeth, said: “We have seen an increase in visitors coming here from home and abroad over the past year, and it is no wonder with so much on offer across North Yorkshire. People are truly spoilt for choice with things to see and do.
“Reeth itself is surrounded by stunning scenery and is an ideal base for those wanting to explore the broader dales and National Parks. For history lovers, there are abbeys, castles and other villages to discover. For those that like nature and the outdoors there’s hiking, cycling and walking on offer.
“It truly is an amazing county and no matter what the weather, North Yorkshire is breathtakingly beautiful in all seasons which is why people keep coming back here.”
Shorts acquires Hewson & Howson
South Yorkshire Accountancy firm Hewson & Howson has a been acquired by accountancy and tax specialists Shorts in a deal which sees all of the Hewson & Howson employees join the Shorts team.
Formed by Ian Hewson and Andrew Howson in 1995, Hewson & Howson built a respected reputation throughout its 30-year history, specialising in providing a partner led service to owner managed businesses. Driven by the decision for both Ian Hewson and Andrew Howson to retire, transferring the business to an accounting firm with a similar culture and service ethic was a key priority for both outgoing partners.
Andy Irvine, Managing Partner at Shorts, said: “Hewson & Howson have a long-standing reputation for providing their clients with high quality tax and accountancy service and we are delighted to now welcome their team and clients to Shorts. Their approach of providing a fully supportive and personal service, and building long standing relationships with their clients is very much in line with the culture here at Shorts and we are looking forward to working with their clients and team over the years to come. Our very best wishes go with Ian and Andrew for a long and happy retirement.”
Ian Hewson added: “When Andrew and I considered retirement and selling the practice, finding the right firm, with the perfect synergy for our clients and team was very important in that decision. Having built a business with a solid reputation, it was important to us that our clients would continue to be looked after with the same attention and support, following the transfer. We firmly believe that the culture at Shorts aligns with our own and we are confident that we leave our clients in the very safest of hands at Shorts going forward.”
British Chambers of Commerce call for growth to feature in King’s speech
The British Chambers of Commerce is calling for growth to be the focus of the King’s Speech next week to give businesses confidence to invest.
Baroness Martha Lane Fox, President of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “The smoke signals coming from our new Government have been very encouraging so far in terms of its ambition and the direction of travel for business.
“Well over half of the 149 recommendations in our five challenge reports were featured in the Labour manifesto. We look forward to working with the Government to implement them, shifting the economy out of first gear.
“So, we’re feeling positive that the voice of business has been heard and the Government will introduce measures that benefit firms and help unlock investment.
“We want to work in partnership with the Government to make this happen, connecting them with businesses of every size and sector across the country.
“They will be watching this King’s Speech closely to see if the Government’s positive words translate into legislation and policy that can really make a difference to them.”
The latest data from the BCC’s Insight Unit shows investment remains patchy with wide sectoral differences. Worryingly, three quarters of firms, overall, have no current plans to raise spending. This inertia remains despite business confidence rising and fears over inflation and interest rates falling.
With the new Government placing economic growth at the heart of its early plans, the BCC has set out five key asks for the Government in its King’s Speech:
- An Industrial Strategy Bill that gives businesses greater certainty on the direction of travel and places green innovation at its core.
- A Skills For The Future Bill, which incentivises businesses to invest in skills and widens the scope of the Apprenticeship Levy.
- A Devolution Bill to shift more powers to regional and local government decision makers – who best understand their economies.
- A Planning Freedom Bill that sets out a system to allow large scale and local infrastructure projects, including digital, to happen at much greater pace.
- A Trade Bill which beefs up the Board of Trade with a fresh remit to improve EU relations and focus on the UK’s future growth sectors.
Firms offered grants of up to £35,000 to boost rejuvenation of Fargate in Sheffield
Grants of up to £35,000 are available as part of the second round of funding to support businesses and organisations in reviving empty shops in the Fargate area of Sheffield and adding to the ongoing transformation work that is now well under way.
The transformation and regeneration of the area is at the centre of Sheffield City Council’s plans to reimagine the city centre into a cleaner, greener, and more vibrant area for people to live, work and relax.
Cllr Ben Miskell, chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee, said: “Fargate has long been known as a vibrant and social part of the city centre and we’re looking to continue that with the fantastic regeneration work we have currently taking place there. The ReNew project is one of the many ways we hope to achieve this.
“With so many exciting businesses in the city, some just starting out and others keen to expand, it is critical we work with them to inject new life into the area. We are looking for businesses to be creative in their ideas and use this opportunity to try something new, expand, or move to a central location.”
During the first round of ReNew funding, businesses just like Juno Books were able to launch, opening up their brand-new shop in Chapel Walk.
Sarah and Rosie, from Juno Books, said: “The support from the ReNew team to make our ambition of opening our first retail space was really appreciated, helping us fit out the shop to a high standard to provide a warm and welcoming space for all.”
Game Show All-stars was another business that benefited from ReNew funding. Based in Orchard Square, Director Hannah said: “The ReNew grant was instrumental in bringing Gameshow All-Stars to life. We used the grant to renovate our venue and to create a vibrant and engaging atmosphere. The financial support allowed us to focus on providing a high-quality experience for our guests from day one. The difference it made was significant, it transformed our vision into a reality and enabled us to create a space that is both entertaining and welcoming.”
The improvements and ReNew grants are funded as part of the £15.8m Future High Streets Fund which the Council successfully bid for in 2021.
Boston company closed down after Insolvency Service reveals loan misconduct
An eel protection business based at Boston in Lincolnshire has been closed down after investigations by the Insolvency Service revealed two cases of government loan misconduct.
The Eel Screen Company Ltd, based on Dolphin Road in Boston, was wound up at the High Court in Manchester. The company provided inaccurate and inconsistent information when it applied for a £50,000 Bounce Back Loan in 2020 and a £225,000 Recovery Loan Scheme payment in 2022.
David Hope, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said: “Our investigations revealed concerns that The Eel Screen Company was being used as a vehicle to fraudulently obtain significant, government-backed loans during the pandemic.
“Bounce Back Loans in particular were made available for trading businesses adversely affected by Covid and were issued based on what should have been accurate financial statements.
“The Insolvency Service will not hesitate to apply to have companies wound-up in the public interest in such cases.”
Insolvency Service investigations into The Eel Screen Company began in August 2023. One of the former directors of the company told investigators that the business was involved in the installation of screens to protect eels in rivers. A second director of The Eel Screen Company said it had since moved into drainage and most recently the construction business. The Eel Screen Company obtained a £50,000 Covid Bounce Back Loan in May 2020, claiming an annual turnover of £320,000 for 2019. Analysis of the company’s bank account showed a turnover of just over £49,000 for that year, with no loan repayments were made despite this being a condition of the scheme. The Eel Screen Company followed this misconduct up with a £225,000 application in January 2022 under the Recovery Loan Scheme, which supports SMEs to access the finance they need to grow and invest. Insolvency Service investigators found inconsistencies in the accounts and VAT returns submitted as part of the application as well as bank statements that appeared not to be genuine. Of the £225,000 The Eel Screen Company received, £148,000 was withdrawn as cash. The company made one repayment under the loan agreement to date, with £213,750 plus £30,726 in interest outstanding. Current and former directors of The Eel Screen Company also failed to produce accounting records on request to the Insolvency Service. The Official Receiver has been appointed as liquidator of the company.Defence Secretary visits Foregemasters to see submarine parts manufacture
UK Defence Secretary John Healey has visited Sheffield Forgemasters to set out Britain’s commitment to the AUKUS submarine delivery partnership as an important driver of jobs and growth in Yorkshire and across the UK.
Mr Healey said Sheffield Forgemasters was a shining light of UK industry that helps boost global security and employs skilled staff from the local community. This is just one example of how our hugely important partnership with our Australian and American partners can help drive jobs and growth across Britain.
The group visited our Heavy Forge to see complex forged components for the AUKUS Class submarines being made
Gary Nutter, CEO at Sheffield Forgemasters, said: “We were delighted and honoured to host such a prestigious visit and would like to thank the Secretary of State for Defence, the Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Chief of Defence Nuclear, Madelaine McTernan CB, for taking time to see what we do at first hand.
“The AUKUS pact will provide secure, highly skilled jobs not only for Sheffield Forgemasters and Yorkshire, but for the wider UK supply chain, over decades.”
An anticipated 7,000 additional British jobs will be generated through the British and Australian AUKUS submarine programmes through their life. At the peak, there will be over 21,000 people working on the SSN-AUKUS programmes in the UK supply chain.
Sheffield Forgemasters is investing heavily in its defence manufacturing capabilities, including a brand new 13,000 tonne Heavy Forging line and a state-of-the-art machine shop which will service AUKUS manufacture.
Joined by the Chief of Defence Nuclear at the Ministry of Defence, Madelaine McTernan CB, the Australian High Commissioner, The Hon Stephen Smith and Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Richard Marles, Minister Healey saw how the business is benefiting from the AUKUS trilateral defence and security partnership between the UK, US and Australia.
Our Chair, Sir Tim Fraser, accompanied by Chief Executive, Gary Nutter, and Chief Financial Officer, Amy Grey, hosted the visit, showcasing the unique capabilities and skills at Sheffield Forgemasters, which make the company a valuable partner in the delivery of SSN-AUKUS submarines for the UK and Australia.
Steelwork complete at Ideal Heating’s UK Tech Centre
Steel erection for Ideal Heating’s £19.2m UK Technology Centre supporting the development of low carbon technologies, including heat pumps, is finished
Rotherham Council provide boost for small businesses
Rotherham Council has stepped up its commitment to ensure that local businesses and employers benefit from its spending.
The Council has partnered with Go4Growth, an organisation that helps businesses and voluntary sector organisations to access public sector contracts.
With a spend of over £400m per annum on public services, goods and products, the Council currently buy from a large pool of suppliers and since October 2019 its policy has been to try to increase the number of those in the local area.
The partnership will provide opportunities for a wide variety of talented voluntary sector organisations and small businesses to access Council contracts.
The programme is fully funded, meaning businesses can join the programme and access the support, guidance, tools and resources on offer at no cost.
In 2022/23, the Council spent £77.2 million in the local economy, an increase of 72% over three years. More than a quarter of the Council’s purchasing power goes directly back into the local economy, with an ambition to increase this further in the future.
Rotherham Council Leader, Cllr Chris Read said: “Our commitment to social value – ensuring that we maximise the benefit of the Council’s spending in our local economy – has already received national recognition. But we know that for many local suppliers, especially smaller businesses, it can be difficult to know where to start.
“That’s why we have brought in Go4Growth who are specialists in the field to give free advice and support to local employers. It’s all part of our mission to see more money spent locally, creating jobs and increasing wages, supporting a fairer local economy that works in the interests of our residents.
“Regardless of where a business is on their journey, if they are aspiring to do more work in the public sector, I urge them to get in touch with Go4Growth.”
Gillian Askew FCIPS – Co-Founder of Go4Growth said: “We are delighted to be working with Rotherham Council to help support local organisations to be able to find and secure work in the public sector marketplace. This is really important work which has only increased in priority and urgency in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and cost of living crises.”
