Spencer Group builds permanent mooring for Spurn Lightship to enhance Hull Marina
Engineering company Spencer Group is building a wet berth for the Spurn Lightship on Hull Marina, as part of a £30m cultural regeneration project.
The Hull City Council-led Hull Maritime project has been launched to celebrate and preserve Hull’s rich maritime heritage.
The lightship was built in 1927 and served for 48 years as a navigation aid in the approaches of the Humber Estuary. It was decommissioned in 1975 before being bought by Hull City Council and moved to Hull Marina as a museum.
It has been closed since 2018, but is now set to reopen in its new home in the north-west corner of the marina, close to the Murdoch’s Connection footbridge, later in the summer.
The works by Spencer Group will include dredging of the berthing area and the installation of five mooring piles and a steel walkway to allow access onto the lightship once it has been moved into place at its new home, close to the Holiday Inn.
The majority of the works will be carried out from floating pontoons.
Richard Green-Morgan, Off-Site Construction Director for Spencer Group, said: “We’re really excited to have started work on this important project in our home city, which will help raise awareness of Hull’s fantastic history.
“The Spurn Lightship is a truly iconic vessel and an important part of the city’s maritime heritage, so we’re incredibly proud to be playing our part in making it accessible to the public when it’s in its new permanent home.
“We’re on track to complete the project in time for the lightship to be moved from its current temporary location on the marina to the new berth later in the summer.”
National Highways, which is carrying out major improvements to the A63 Castle Street route in and out of Hull, has awarded Hull City Council over £1m through its Designated Funds programme for the delivery of the wet berth.
Rebecca Wathen, National Highways Assistant Project Manager, said: “It’s a very proud moment for us to see the works commence on the new home for this icon, which embraces the city’s maritime heritage, next to the landmark Murdoch’s Connection footbridge.
“It’s really important to us that we continue to support projects such as the Spurn Lightship through our Designated Funds programme, which we aim to bring lasting benefits to communities.”
Leeds councillors contemplate selling city’s first-ever number plate
Leeds City Council is contemplating the sale of a the U1 number plate, used on the Lord Mayor’s civic car, to help bridge its £58.4m budget shortfall.
The number plate U1 was the first number plate bought in the city, having been acquired in 1903 by Rowland Winn, a motoring pioneer and founding member of the AA.
When his friend Arthur Currer Briggs was elected Lord Mayor of Leeds that same year, Mr Winn gave the U1 plate to him to use on his civic vehicle, and it has been used by Lord Mayors of Leeds ever since.
Mr Winn, one of the city’s first car dealers, was himself later elected Lord Mayor of Leeds in 1938-39. He retired from public life in the 1950s and was awarded the Freedom of the City in 1956, in recognition of his contribution to the city’s life and prosperity.
Council officials have ben told the U1 plate could fetch a substantial amount, with all proceeds from any sale going back into the council budget and helping to protect front line services.
Debra Coupar, Leeds City Council’s executive member for resources, said: “The sale of any assets is never something we take lightly and, in an ideal world, would not be something we’d wish to do. However, the financial pressures we are facing are simply so acute, we are being forced to look at all manner of options which we have never explored before.
“After consulting with experts, it’s clear that the sale of this number plate gives us a one-of-a-kind opportunity to secure a significant amount of funding, helping us protect vital services where we can whilst having no tangible impact on the people of Leeds.
“In the current circumstances, it’s an opportunity we can’t afford not to examine in more detail and our priority has to be to do whatever we can to balance our budget, meet the needs of residents and not risk being driven to the point of financial distress.”
Free flow tolling one step closer at the Humber Bridge following contractor appointment
Free flow tolling has moved a step closer at the Humber Bridge.
The Humber Bridge Board has appointed US company Neology to install a new tolling system designed to improve the customer experience and revolutionise how payments are taken.
The new system will see the bridge go fully booth-free for the first time in its 43-year history, with payments being made through a new website and mobile app.
As part of the project, a scheme similar to Payzone will also be launched enabling people to pay cash at key locations across the region, although cash will not be taken at the Humber Bridge or the Humber Bridge offices.
Once completed, the new system will increase requirements for back-office staff, meaning those currently working in the toll booths will be offered the opportunity to apply for new roles.
Richard Hannigan, Chair of the Humber Bridge Board and Deputy Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, described the appointment of Neology as a key milestone in delivering the new toll system project.
The multi-million pound scheme will utilise key technologies including artificial intelligence and automatic number plate recognition, Cllr Hannigan explained, to significantly improve the user experience.
He said: “We conducted a thorough and extensive tender process to find the right partner to provide the new tolling system, and received some impressive bids from companies across the world.
“However, Neology’s submission stood out as the best design solution to address the needs of our customers.
“We are very excited to see this vital project move forward as it will deliver a range of significant improvements for motorists using the bridge, helping to bring the two sides of the estuary closer together, and ensure that making payments is a quick, easy and painless process.
“We know these are the improvements our customers would most like to see and we’re committed to delivering them as part of this fantastic project.”
Andrew Arundel, Chief Operating Officer of the Humber Bridge, reassured motorists that disruption will be kept to a minimum during the installation phase of the scheme.
He said: “Currently, the project is in the design stage meaning work will not begin on site for several months.
“When it does, understandably there will be some concern it will generate a large amount of disruption for bridge users. Whereas this might be the case during some of the key moments in the project, the schedule of work will be designed to keep disruption to a minimum.
“Once the work is completed, crossing the bridge will become a more pleasant experience.”
Commenting on the appointment, Luke Normington, Neology’s Senior Vice of Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), said: “Following a highly competitive tender, which focused on technical expertise and innovation, we are proud to have been entrusted with this project.
“Bringing our global expertise in the tolling solutions, coupled with our long-term expertise in the UK, provides the perfect understanding of how to deliver this solution to improve the experience of the people who travel on that bridge, every day.
“We look forward to a long and successful partnership with Andrew Arundel and the team at the Humber Bridge.”
Beechbrook appoints new Managing Director and continues to expand regional footprint into Leeds
Beechbrook Capital, a lower-mid-market debt manager, has appointed Richard Smart as Managing Director.
Richard’s appointment is to drive the firm’s UK direct lending strategy and originate new SME investment opportunities working with the Beechbrook UK Investment team. This appointment continues to expand Beechbrook’s regional footprint into Leeds.
Richard joins from NatWest, where he spent 22 years, most recently as Head of UK Financing Solutions responsible for the regions and London. He led the origination, structuring and execution of event driven transactions for growth SME to FTSE 100 customers and leveraged finance (private equity).
His responsibilities included over £4bn in debt deployment across c. 115 transactions per annum, alongside external Board Directorship of RBS Invoice Finance, managing the P&L of NatWest’s UK corporate ABL business.
In addition, Richard was a member of the NatWest UK Debt & Financing Solutions Management Team, Chair National investment committee, and a quorum member of the bank-wide Capital & Pricing approval committee. He led multiple business transformations leading geographically dispersed teams, while pioneering a culture led strategic approach. Prior to this he qualified as a Chartered Accountant with PwC.
Paul Shea, Managing Partner, said: “We have a long-established track record and commitment to providing debt financing to the UK lower mid-market and have closed 95+ transactions to date across the UK and Europe.
“Our success in sponsorless lending has been built around our commitment to this significant market opportunity and investing in a regional network that allows us to access local advisors to bring debt financing to all corners of the UK.
“We are delighted to welcome Richard to the team, who brings his regional and national experience and vision to our SME funds. This will accelerate our footprint, expand our support for borrowers and benefit our investors.”
Richard Smart, Managing Director, said: “The success of the Beechbrook Capital brand and the future growth aspirations in UK SME direct lending, creates a huge opportunity.
“I am excited to build on the three existing UK funds invested to date, and ultimately to make debt solutions available to a wider subset of companies, without the need for majority equity ownership.
“Offering differentiated and tailored financing solutions that align with borrowers’ needs is essential to fill the gap left by bank retrenchment, and beyond that, to help drive economic growth in the UK.”
Getech sells part of head office
Getech, a locator of subsurface resources needed for the world to decarbonise, has revealed the partial sale of its head office.
The company’s head office is located at Elmete Hall near Leeds, which comprises of three adjoining properties known as Kitson House, Nicholson House and The Old Hall, of which the company owned two properties: Kitson House, which is a 5,726 sq ft Grade 2 listed Georgian building, and Nicholson House, which is a modern 6,996 sq ft office building.
During Covid, the company vacated Kitson House to reduce costs and Getech staff are now located within Nicholson House.
Getech has now sold Kitson House for gross proceeds £0.65m. Getech intends to use the net proceeds of the sale to paydown bank debt secured on the property, which is currently in discussion with the bank, with the remainder retained by the business for working capital.
Meanwhile, the company continues to market Nicholson House for sale, with the intention of selling the property and moving to premises in central Leeds.
Richard Bennett, acting CEO, said: “We are pleased to have sold Kitson House and we will use the net proceeds to continue to develop the business.
“Although the property market remains challenging, we shall continue to offer Nicholson House to the market and use the proceeds to relocate within Leeds to more appropriate offices closer to the university and its innovative community.
“This will enhance the business as we accelerate the development of the Globe geoscience platform.”
Scunthorpe United transfers in new accountant
Scunthorpe United has welcomed back Louise Butler in the role of club accountant.
She previously spent 11 years at the club when she was Louise Whittaker, but that was almost nine years ago.
After leaving college, she spent over eight years at accountants Forrester Boyd before joining the Iron in January 2004. When she left in 2015, Louise went on to be Senior Management Accountant at the Press Association and then Financial Controller at Smiffys, but kept up her involvement with the Iron Foundation throughout that time.
Having been at the club as colleagues when owner Michelle Harness was Commercial Manager, Michelle said: “Louise has an amazing amount of experience, and was someone I was keen to add to our team. She will work tirelessly to get this side of the business back on track, and install a clear structure to help us move forward.”
Farm Electronics Ltd consolidates Grantham operation onto just one site
Dutch-owned Farm Electronics Ltd, which makes ventilation and refrigeration crop storage equipment, has moved from two sites in Grantham to just one on the town’s Mallard Business Park on Trent Road.
The new premises give the engineering firm almost 16,000 sq ft of warehouse and office accommodation on its own independent site within Park’s wider secure and gated setting.
Mallard Business Park is managed by Grantham Estates, which manages more than 200 properties across the East Midlands and Eastern region.
There are four units in total at Mallard Business Park where Farm Electronics Ltd joins operators and distributors from a range of sectors, including stone & porcelain tiling, sewing & crafting, and clothing care tools & accessories.
Adam Fryer, Commercial Director at Farm Electronics, said: “Our search had been low key for the past couple of years. While not retained as our agent, when Eddisons alerted us to availability at Mallard Business Park and brokered the introduction to Grantham Estates, it became clear that Unit 1 was the obvious location for the next phase of our planned business growth – which already sees us adding two new recruits this month to our current headcount of 13.”
James Moore, Estates Manager at Grantham Estates, added: “The park’s proximity to the A1 is one of its strongest features and, as such, Unit 1 attracted a number of enquiries after we began to market it last spring.
“However, following Eddisons introducing Farm Electronics to us, it was clear that this firm was in the best position to become the new tenant. That negotiations proceeded swiftly from there and concluded before the end of the year is a testament to the professionalism and focus of all parties involved.”
Former Leeds council official joins Eddison’s in new role as head of sustainability
Property consultancy Eddisons has appointed Nazar Soofi, former head of decarbonisation at Leeds City Council, to the new role of head of sustainability and decarbonisation.
The move marks a major strategic hire for the company as it launches its own sustainability centre of excellence, based at its Leeds head offices. Headed by Soofi, the new centre will act as a hub to provide leading-edge advice on carbon reduction and environmental best practice across the public and private sectors.
Credited with delivering the £50m decarbonisation programme at Leeds City Council that has become a global benchmark for sustainable urban development, Soofi has led the transformation of more than 80 sites in the city since 2021, including Leeds Town Hall, Civic Hall and Central Library, transitioning them from fossil fuels reliance to renewable energy.
Mr Soofi said: “I’m really excited to take on this new role with Eddisons, which as a business is ahead of the curve on sustainability. My appointment is testament to the fact that they are fully committed to supporting their clients to realising their net zero ambitions.
“The new centre of excellence will be an accessible one stop shop providing practical advice on anything from a cradle to grave project to troubleshooting, and the most practical ways to achieve sustainability aims. I am looking forward to working with private and public sector organisations and steering sustainable and environmentally conscious practices right across the UK.”
Anthony Spencer, Eddisons managing partner, said: “Naz is a leading light in the field of decarbonisation and sustainability and we are absolutely thrilled that he is joining Eddisons, where his contribution will enable us to make a step change in the services we can offer our clients in providing the very best advice and practical assistance on sustainability.
“We are passionate about sustainability and there is huge and growing demand from our clients for advice on best practice in this area. Headed by Naz, our new centre of excellence will be a ground-breaking facility that will act as a beacon in the progress to net zero.”
Harrogate agency wins award as top PR company
Harrogate-based sustainability communications consultancy Ethical Team Public Relations has been voted Specialist PR Agency of the Year in the Yorkshire Prestige Awards 2023/24.
The Yorkshire Prestige Awards 2023/24, dedicated to celebrating the achievements of SMEs, has acknowledged the Ethical Team for its outstanding contribution to supporting responsible businesses and propelling the narrative of sustainability communications.
Ethical Team founder Iain Patton said: “The success of Ethical Team PR stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to authentic brand news narratives while simultaneously fostering social equity and environmental sustainability.
“Our approach provides businesses with a flexible, ‘outside-in solution’ for purpose-driven organisations, enhancing their capacity to amplify their stories globally online and in broadcast media on vital topics such as climate change, science, health, and environmental challenges”.
UK Atomic Energy authority plans development of West Burton power station near Gainsborough
Thousands of jobs could be created in the wake of Bassetlaw District Council’s decision to approve the first stages of plans for a multi-billion-pound project transforming West Burton power station site to support the development of the UK’s prototype fusion energy plant.
It’s the STEP Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production – or STEP – programme, and it’s being ld by the UK Atomic Energy Authority
Bassetlaw District Council has approved plans for the first temporary building to be constructed on site, Coucnil leader James Naish said: “Delivering a prototype fusion energy plant at West Burton will bring massive investment to the area and is a game changer for our local economy.
“The granting of our first planning permission to the UKAEA and the first planning permission for new construction on the STEP site is a significant milestone for the Council. I look forward to more applications coming forward as the project continues to develop at West Burton over the next two decades.”
The temporary building will house project staff as they work on the plans to deliver a prototype fusion energy power station to prepare for future production of low carbon energy.
Fusion energy has great potential to deliver a safe and virtually limitless source of clean electricity, based on the same processes that power the sun.
James Cowan, Director of Programme Development for STEP as part of UKAEA Group said: “It’s going to be our first UKAEA base in North Nottinghamshire, and a location from which we can fulfil our vision of delivering a prototype fusion plant that moves us towards commercial viability.
“We are pleased to be working with Bassetlaw District Council on this programme of national significance. I hope this will be the first of many planning approvals in the future, helping us to collectively deliver social and economic benefits to the area.”
