FirstGroup completes takeover of York Pullman bus company

Stuart Pearcey
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FirstGroup completes takeover of York Pullman bus company

The sale of long-established family business York Pullman Bus Company to FirstGroup plc has been completed.

MD Tom James will remain with York Pullman and continue to run the business under the same name with support from his existing team and First Bus, which is FirstGroup’s bus division. The deal has been competed with advisory services fromaccountancy firm Azets and regional law firm Andrew Jackson.

Nick Barker, Corporate Finance Partner from Azets Yorkshire acted for York Pullman, with Karen Sadler, Senior Manager in Tax Advisory, providing the tax support. They worked closely with Mr James as well as a legal team led by Susie Mortonson, Corporate Partner at regional law firm Andrew Jackson. The deal had been announced in January before being completed following standard regulatory reviews. Mr Barker said: “It has been a privilege to assist Tom with the sale of York Pullman, which is such a well-known and well-regarded York name. Through his expert guidance it has grown to hold a dominant position as the leading independent bus and coach operator in the local market. “It was particularly important that we found a partner that shared that same integrity and values that have made the business such a success and I am delighted that in FirstGroup we have found a new owner that is committed to continuing the name and good work of York Pullman.” Susie Mortonson added: “It has been a pleasure to support and guide Tom and his team on this significant transaction. York Pullman is a fantastic business and I wish them every success as the business enters a new chapter as part of FirstGroup.” Tom James said: “I am extremely grateful for the exceptional professional advice and guidance provided by Azets and Andrew Jackson Solicitors throughout the entire process. “Their support will enable York Pullman to build and grow on its successes as it looks towards an exciting future with FirstGroup.” York Pullman has more than 130 vehicles and is made up of five well-established brands in regional and business-to-business operations in York and North Yorkshire. These include home-to-school and college contracted services, private hire and local bus routes run on behalf of local councils. The York Pullman name can be traced back to the 1920s before it was resurrected by Tom James in 2007. Vehicles were painted in the original Pullman livery colours as the company’s brand once again appeared on York’s city streets.

North Yorkshire industrial estate awarded funding to lead the way to become net zero

Tess Egginton
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North Yorkshire industrial estate awarded funding to lead the way to become net zero
An innovative scheme to create a pathway to net zero carbon emissions for a North Yorkshire industrial estate has won government support. Decarbonising Dalton has been awarded £129,064 by Innovate UK towards a £201,763 project. It will fund a 12 month-long feasibility study at the rural Dalton Industrial estate near Thirsk, to look into emissions associated with power, heat, materials and transport and how those can be reduced. Business leaders hope that the solution will find a pathway to net zero for other industrial estates across the country to follow. It is projected that electricity demand on the estate of 28 businesses, including nine larger companies, will more than double in the next three years and beyond, with planning permission already granted to extend the area by another 22 hectares. The project will draw up detailed assessments for each business and propose an action plan to take them to net zero whilst minimising offsetting. It will be delivered in five phases – business needs assessments, quick win reductions, shared onsite opportunities, offsite interventions, and collation and knowledge sharing. Executive member for climate change, Cllr Greg White, said: “There is growing enthusiasm among Dalton business leaders to tackle carbon emissions but there are also constraints on the electricity grid. Owners of the largest businesses – and users – are working together to find a solution that helps them all grow in a more sustainable manner. “They are looking at innovative ways to maximise benefits for the environment as well as for themselves. They aim to plan a route to net zero for Dalton which will become a blueprint for the decarbonisation of smaller, particularly rural industrial estates across the UK.” The project is being led by a partnership of North Yorkshire Council, six Dalton businesses – Cleveland Steel and Tubes Limited, Wetherby Stone Products Limited, Severfield plc, Inspired Pet Nutrition Limited, Citivale Group Holdings Ltd and National Tube Stockholders – and Northern Powergrid. Partnership spokesperson and head of ESG at Severfield plc, Michaela Lindridge, said: “We are all committed to advancing the decarbonisation of our industries through our normal business so we are thrilled and excited to be able to potentially take the lead in decarbonisation for industry in general. “Sustainability plays a vital role in the way in which we do business. Together we can support our ambitions for carbon neutral manufacturing in the region, as well as share experience and expertise in green technologies and actively working together to diminish our carbon footprint through sustainable production practices and energy-efficient manufacturing. “This project presents a unique opportunity to drive sustainability forward for many different businesses and we are excited to see what opportunities lie ahead.” Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is the UK’s innovation agency. It works to create a better future by inspiring, involving and investing in businesses developing life-changing innovations. Its mission is to help companies to grow through their development and commercialisation of new products, processes and services, supported by an outstanding innovation ecosystem that is agile, inclusive and easy to navigate. Dr Bryony Livesey, UKRI Challenge Director, Industrial Decarbonisation, said: “This project shows the keenness of businesses to collaborate on plans to decarbonise by forming local industrial clusters and working together to drive down emissions. This is a crucial step in tackling decarbonisation at dispersed sites on the UK’s journey towards net zero by 2050.”

Yorkshire and Humber shares in £20m investment to help ‘heartbeat of the economy’

Stuart Pearcey
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Yorkshire and Humber shares in £20m investment to help ‘heartbeat of the economy’

The Yorkshire and the Humber region is to get a share in £20m through the Business Enterprise Fund to support support for small firms, via an investment from Lloyds Bank & Big Society Capital.

To support local jobs and improve the economy, the investment is part of a £62m boost to help Community Development Finance Institutions back businesses in the most deprived areas of England and Wales.

BEF, which operates across Yorkshire and the Humber, the North East and the North West, is one of three CDFIs selected to receive the funding, with criteria ensuring that the money goes towards socially motivated lenders who are already lending around £100m every year to businesses which traditional and challenger banks or fintech can’t service.

The fund is designed to support underserved communities including BAME and female led businesses; CDFIs have become known for working with such businesses and providing support where mainstream banking cannot.

Stephen Waud, CEO of BEF said: “It’s good news that mainstream lenders such as Lloyds Bank recognise the transformative effects that CDFIs have in the communities they serve. It’s all about providing business owners, and aspiring business owners, with the opportunity to go to market with their ideas. There’s also a real focus on trickle up, rather than trickle-down economics, where job creation and wealth generation in these communities create proven economic change.

“We’re thrilled to be one of the CDFIs helping to utilise this fund and support small businesses and local economies. We plan to support over 280 businesses and create nearly 600 jobs with the funds that we have, helping both female and BAME led businesses with the opportunity to prove their success.”

Elyn Corfield, CEO Business and Commercial Banking at Lloyds Bank, said: “SMEs are the heartbeat of the UK economy and as the largest domestic banking group, we have a proud history of supporting UK businesses to thrive. We’re therefore delighted to support the CDFI sector to back local businesses, with a focus on deprived areas, and ensure they have access to a range of financial options right for them. When local businesses flourish so do local communities and we hope our leadership within this second phase of CIEF will see many more areas of the UK succeed.”

Hull Trains wins award for reducing delays

Stuart Pearcey
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Hull Trains wins award for reducing delays
Hull Trains has won rail industry recognition for the commitment by the company in reducing delays by winning a ‘Minimising Delay Minutes’ gold award presented at the Modern Railways ‘Golden Whistle’ awards. Lou Mendham, Service Delivery Director at Hull Trains, said: “It’s a great honour for Hull Trains to be recognised by the Golden Whistles. We’re immensely proud of the performance and reliability of our service alongside the dedication of our teams who have contributed to us achieving this fantastic accolade and making sure our customers enjoy the best possible service when they travel with us.” Philip Sherratt, Editor of Modern Railways magazine, said: ‘Usually the smaller operators are not eligible for the statistics-based Golden Whistle Awards, but with Hull Trains and Lumo the top two operators in the category for minimising delay minutes we wanted to recognise the hard work of the teams involved so decided to present them with a special Gold Whistle. “This award shows that both operators are working hard to reduce the delays over which they have control and have a keen focus on delivering the best performance they can.” The gold award, presented jointly to Hull Trains and sister company, Lumo, recognises the efforts made by rail operators to reduce delays over an annual average. Hull Trains demonstrated to expert industry judges a consistent reliability and performance on services under its control. Held in partnership with the Chartered Institution of Railway Operators, the Golden Whistle awards are a highlight in the industry calendar each year. Successful organisations are awarded one of two standards: silver or gold. The top award in this category, gold, won by Hull Trains represents excellent performance, while silver highlights significant improvement.

Stirlin named as contractor for YMCA housing project in Lincoln

Stuart Pearcey
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Stirlin named as contractor for YMCA housing project in Lincoln
Stirlin has been appointed as the main contractor for the development of housing at Sheridan Close, St Giles, Lincoln for YMCA Lincolnshire. This project will include 16 independent apartments, providing essential move-on accommodation and support or assisted living for young people.  This is a much-needed facility and contributes significantly to YMCA Lincolnshire’s mission of supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged people across the region. This project expands the housing provision already provided by the charity.  CEO Caroline Killeavy said “This is much needed, high-quality accommodation for local young people. Sixteen self-contained modern apartments will provide a much-needed safe space for those who have experienced hardship in their lives.” Stirlin MD Tony Lawton said: “Social values are embedded at the heart of what we do at Stirlin and so we are unbelievably proud to be part of this project as it will make such a positive difference in the lives of individuals and communities.” YMCA Lincolnshire has been a cornerstone of community support for over 150 years, managing over 170 units of accommodation throughout Lincoln. Their dedication to providing crucial services to those in need aligns seamlessly with Stirlin’s commitment to delivering exceptional projects that positively impact communities.

Growth returns for UK economy

Tess Egginton
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Growth returns for UK economy
The UK economy returned to growth in January, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). UK GDP (gross domestic product), a key measure of economy growth, increased 0.2% in January, in line with expectations following a 0.1% fall in December. The increase was supported by a pick up in construction activity (growing 1.1% quarter-on-quarter) and a stronger month for the services sector (increasing 0.2% quarter-on-quarter and acting as the largest contributor to the rise in GDP). Production output, however, fell 0.2% quarter-on-quarter. The modest growth comes after the UK fell into a recession. Tina McKenzie, Policy Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), said of the figures: “An increase in GDP is an encouraging start to the year, and one small firms will be relieved to see, as it raises hopes that we may be pulling out of the shallow recession declared following low levels of negative growth through the second half of 2023. “It’s too early to celebrate with any great level of vigour, however, as small firms are certainly finding the going tough at the moment. “The recent Budget contained some help for small firms, notably the raising of the VAT threshold from £85,000 to £90,000 and the cut to National Insurance contributions, but small firms hoped for more help with day-to-day costs. “This isn’t just about existing businesses starting to turn to growth in 2024; this is about creating the conditions for people to set up in business for the very first time, the next generation of start-ups who will make up the ground we lost during the Covid years when the UK small business population contracted by 500,000, losing one in 10 of them. “Our Small Business Index research has found particular cause for concern among hospitality and retail firms, which are trailing far behind the overall average in terms of confidence levels. Indeed, one in eight firms in the hospitality sector expect to close entirely in the next 12 months, nearly four times the rate for all businesses, which should be a huge wake-up call to the Government about the dangers facing many thousands of small businesses. “Small businesses contribute an enormous amount to the economy, and a sustainable recovery will be built on their success and growth. Today’s news must be built on if it is not to turn into another false dawn for small firms.”

Agrifood firms get chance to apply for share in £7.5m

Stuart Pearcey
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Agrifood firms get chance to apply for share in £7.5m
A new grant programme is offering regional agrifood SMEs a share in £7.5m from Innovate UK. Sarah-Louise Fairburn, Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP’s Food Board, said: “The announcement of a Launchpad supporting SMEs in our agrifood sector is warmly welcomed. “This news comes just days after the announcement of a £4.9 million grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to help transform the Lincolnshire and north Cambridgeshire region into a global innovation centre for agricultural technology. “The team at the Greater Lincolnshire LEP has worked hard over a number of months to secure one of only eight Innovation Launchpads in the country for the Lincolnshire food and agritech sectors. “Both announcements put us firmly on course to achieve the ambitious goal of the new UK Food Valley, which is to establish Greater Lincolnshire as a top 10 global food cluster.” To be eligible, projects must make a significant contribution to one or more of the following:
  • enhancing the productivity of primary crops, the bioeconomy, livestock, aquaculture or ornamental plants
  • biotechnologies related to agriculture, food and nutrition
  • food that promotes safe, healthy and nutritious diets
  • resource-efficient production methods for low-emission foods
Projects can focus on one or more of the following:
  • sustainability in the context of environmental challenges such as climate change and resource scarcity
  • protecting, maintaining or enhancing animal welfare within current UK regulatory standard
  • nutritional composition, food manufacturing and processing, packaging, and safety
  • minimising negative effects such as pollution, food loss and waste
  • resilience and responsiveness in the supply chain, mitigating risks, interruptions or disruptions
Businesses applying for grant funding must either be based in Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland, Norfolk, Suffolk or Cambridgeshire or be able to demonstrate how their project will significantly benefit those areas. The Launchpads programme is funded by Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation. It is designed to build on innovation clusters around the UK that have significant growth potential and to deliver jobs, growth, and higher productivity, supporting the Government’s levelling up agenda. Innovate UK CEO Indro Mukerjee said: “Innovate UK is building strong regional partnerships across the UK to support local innovation and commercialisation. Our new Launchpads will help to attract further private sector R&D investment into innovation clusters, growing local economies and delivering societal and economic benefits to local communities.”

Bingley business park bought in off-market deal

Tess Egginton
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0
Bingley business park bought in off-market deal
Bradford developer Frank Marshall Estates has bought Cottingley Business Park, near Bingley, in an off-market deal for an undisclosed sum. The 78,000 sq ft office park has been acquired from West Yorkshire property management and development company Cox22. Frank Marshall Estates is owned and run by Edward and Jimmy Marshall and is a well-established real estate company with significant commercial assets in Yorkshire. Edward Marshall said: “This is a stunning business park, brilliantly located at the end of the Bingley bypass (A650) in Cottingley, Bingley. It is only 15 minutes from Bradford city centre and 30 minutes from Leeds, with excellent public transport links between both cities and the surrounding areas as well. “We are very pleased to buy this quality asset and to further strengthen our Bradford portfolio of offices. Personally, I have known about the Jaggar family, who own Cox22, for many years and have always thought they were good operators. Having got to know them during this deal, my initial thoughts have been confirmed. “We are very excited to take this site forward and only hope we can do as good a job as Cox22 have done. It’s always good to do a deal with a handshake and then take it to completion with both sides honouring the deal as agreed.” Jimmy Marshall explained: “We bought Cottingley Business Park because of its location and quality. The chance to buy such a quality asset arose because of the retirement of Donald Jaggar. One of the keys to successful property investing is being able to take the opportunities that come up when they come up, with a combination of risk tolerance, patience and speed.” There are 45-plus tenants on the park including: Ramsey Health, Mineral Planning Group, Watson Buckle Accountants, Nevis Computers and Advancery. Jimmy Marshall added: “The park is in great condition. All we are going to do is some re-signing and re-branding with a view bringing the park in line with the Frank Marshall Estates brands.” Louise Leckenby, who owned Cottingley Business Park with her father Donald Jaggar, said: “The Marshall brothers have been a delight to deal with, straight-talking, uncomplicated and honourable. Whilst selling the Business Park was by no means an easy decision for either my father Donald or myself, having been a huge part of our lives for 25 years, we feel comfortable and confident that it is now in very capable and much younger hands to carry it forward into the future. We wish them all the best.” Donald Jaggar added: “Although we had a number of enquiries for our Business Park, they were from the south of England, mainly in the London area. Many of our tenants have been with us from the outset of building the park 25 years ago and they became not just tenants but friends as well and we didn’t want to let them down. So, when the enquiry came from a local Bradford firm, we were pleased to talk to them and a deal was struck at our first meeting. The handover will be seamless.” Frank Marshall Estates were advised by Drew Abercrombie at Handlesbanken in Bradford and by Simon Mydlowski and Sean Meehan of Clarion Solicitors Cox 22 were represented by lawyers Schofield Sweeney and Eddisons. Edward Marshall concluded: “I would like to thank Donald Jaggar and Louise Leckenby of Cox 22 for allowing us the opportunity to buy this great asset and to take it forward for the next few decades. We will safeguard and build on what they have achieved.”

Yorkshire Water builds underground reservoir between Malton and York

Stuart Pearcey
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Yorkshire Water builds underground reservoir between Malton and York
In May 2025 Yorkshire Water expects to have completed an £8.5m service reservoir in Harton, between Malton and York, to increase resilience of the drinking water network in the area and improve supplies locally. It will supply drinking water to existing customers and provide capacity in the area for new developments, including a new prison which is due to open next year. Once completed, the underground reservoir, which will measure 40mx60m and be six metres underground, will hold almost 10 million litres of clean drinking water – the equivalent to four Olympic swimming pools. Phoebe Ripley, project manager for operations, at Yorkshire Water said: “This new reservoir will help to significantly increase the resilience of our water network in the area, improving supplies locally. “We understand the area will be undergoing a lot of changes over the next few years, and we’re keen to ensure that we’re ready to cope with the demand and provide a reliable service to all our customers both now and in the future. “We’re planning to complete this project by May 2025.”

Caddick completes £14.4m warehouse facility in Doncaster

Tess Egginton
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Caddick completes £14.4m warehouse facility in Doncaster
Caddick Construction has completed building work for a new £14.4m warehouse facility in Doncaster on behalf of Waystone Hargreaves Land. Caddick’s build comprised the initial groundworks, including stabilisation, vibro piling and lifting of the site level by 1.5m. The project itself saw the construction of a steel portal framed and clad industrial warehouse building. Totalling 191,000 sq ft, the build also included 9,300 sq ft office space over ground and first floors, together with associated service yard, car parking, landscaping and drainage infrastructure. Forming part of a wider regeneration plan, Unit B sits within the dedicated employment area of the Unity Connect scheme, strategically located adjacent to junction 5 of the M18 motorway. Achieving BREEAM Very Good, the scheme represents a huge investment by Waystone Hargreaves Land to regenerate the area, contributing to Doncaster’s growing business community. Paul Dodsworth, Managing Director at Caddick Construction Group, says: “This has been a brilliant development working with Waystone Hargreaves Land to transform this unused site into what will become a widely connected industrial corner of Doncaster. “Delivering Unit B at Unity Connect is a great privilege for the Caddick team, and has provided us the opportunity to utilise our extensive expertise in building high quality and modern warehouses. “We look forward to seeing how this project will help to shape the local community as it attracts new and growing businesses hoping to strengthen their operations at Unity Connect.”
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