North Yorkshire Growth Hub appoints three new advisors
Three new team members have joined the York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub. Faye Greer-Pickup, Jack Colding, and Adrian O’Neill will play a crucial role as business advisors for North Yorkshire. Each will bring a unique set of skills and experiences to provide free and impartial support.
Faye Greer-Pickup will provide support to people looking to start businesses in North Yorkshire. Faye’s background in business support, and passion for assisting young entrepreneurs, makes her a valuable member to the team. She said: “I’m thrilled to work with pre-start and early-stage start-ups. I can’t wait to start helping them find the path to success.”
Faye’s work will involve referring businesses to the Growth Hub’s range of support for start-ups. This includes the acclaimed Strive Live Start-Up Incubator. The programme designed to equip business owners with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in today’s market.
Jack Colding is the Growth Hub’s new specialist for Environment and Sustainability. Jack will work closely with businesses in North Yorkshire to reduce costs and stay ahead of new rules on net zero. Jack’s background has given him insights into decarbonisation processes, and he is eager to help businesses reduce their energy and waste. Jack said, “Net zero is a tremendous business opportunity. It can save costs and boost your brand while helping the environment.”
As part of £22.3m of Shared Prosperity Funding, North Yorkshire Council have made grants and support available to address gaps preventing businesses taking action on net zero. Jack Colding will assist businesses in accessing this funding, opening the door to opportunities for sustainability and growth.
Adrian O’Neill has joined as the new Skills specialist. Adrian will dedicate his time to helping North Yorkshire businesses create a well-trained and fully engaged workforce. This will help with challenges such as hiring and keeping staff. Adrian will work with businesses to put long-term skills development plans in place rather than rely on short-term fixes. Adrian’s diverse background, including teaching and working with disadvantaged groups, positions him to understand business needs.
He said: “Well-trained and motivated employees are the cornerstone of business success. I’m here to identify and address skills gaps, provide solutions, and connect businesses with the right training providers.”
Adrian O’Neill is helping business access an array of support. This includes an exciting programme of 30 Skills Bootcamps, supporting more than 800 learners. Skills Bootcamps can help businesses develop their workforce, with up to 90% of costs met by York & North Yorkshire LEP.
Council seeks Project Manager to support regeneration of Cleethorpes’ Pier Gardens
North East Lincolnshire Council has has launched a tender for a NEC4 Project Manager to play a key role in supporting the regeneration of Pier Gardens.
The project is part of an £18.4m transformation of Cleethorpes seafront including the key areas of the Market Place, Pier Gardens and Sea Road.
Philip Jackson, Leader of the council, said: “Cleethorpes has a wealth of assets that can enable it to be at the forefront of regeneration. Opened in 1885, Pier Gardens’ location is at the heart of the resort and the scope for re-development is vast.
“The area for regeneration presents a unique opportunity to create a space that will become an attraction for residents and visitors alike. The linear park raised above Central Promenade is a hidden and an underutilised gem of a public green space that could offer so much more.”
Starting in January 2024, the council’s delivery partner Equans and NELC’s project management team will work in partnership with the successful NEC4 Project Manager to ensure the design team who will be appointed via the Pagabo framework are supported in developing comprehensive designs.
The tender is now open through YORtender for potential applicants and will close on Thursday 30 November 2023.
NFU urges turkey producers to turn to social media to market Christmas poultry
Turkey producers in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire have taken NFU advice and turned to modern tech to sustain the Christmas turkey tradition.
They’ve signed up for the NFU’s ‘Buy My Turkey’ campaign, starting on November 17th, when customers can go on line to the turkey finder and find producers in their area from whom to buy the Christmas bird.
The NFU has offered advice about what to put onto social media to get the highest profile for their posts, and attract potential customers. It says that by sourcing a turkey from a local producer, customers will get a high-quality bird raised to world-leading standards, at the same time as cutting food miles and supporting the rural economy.
The campaign has been extremely successful in recent years, with producers taking part reporting that they have sold out very quickly. One said: “The campaign has not only been excellent in raising customer awareness of our birds, but also reduces food miles because customers didn’t have to travel far to get to us.”
King’s speech has missed an opportunity, says Doncaster Chamber
Doncaster Chamber believes Government missed a vital opportunity to show that it understands the plight of businesses in the North.
It’s says the speech contained comparatively little in the way of new policy proposals to reassure businesses in places like South Yorkshire. Said Frank Horsley, Head of Policy and Partnerships at Doncaster Chamber: “In fact, while the speech did outline some laudable ambitions for the UK — in terms of stimulating economic growth, bringing down inflation and creating new jobs — it failed to articulate exactly how these goals will be achieved.”
the day before the speech Doncaster Chamber published a wish list of key asks that, if implemented, would have allow government to show that they truly understand the needs and wants of firms on the ground. “Given that nothing specific was announced, and that the speech was generally lacking in fresh ideas, the Chamber is now arguing that an opportunity has been missed and is therefore urging Government to provide further detail as soon as possible, to help provide confidence during such difficult economic times,” added Mr Horsley.
“Although the King’s Speech is not intended to go into forensic detail with any legislative plans, and we still have an Autumn Statement on the horizon, this was nevertheless an underwhelming look at Government’s ambitions for the coming months and we will continue to press them for concrete initiatives that will positively support our businesses in Doncaster.
“Now is the time for bold policies that will help firms get through these challenging times. In the face of great upheaval and assorted macroeconomic headwinds, our business communities have weathered a fierce storm over the past few years and really impressed us with their grit, resilience and determination.
“Yet they still need to know that Government has their best interests at heart. With that said, today’s King’s Speech could have, and should have, gone a lot further to assure them of this.
“There were some encouraging references to things like: increasing high quality apprenticeships; investing in emerging industries; and regenerating towns, but not enough clarity on how these various aspirations will be realised or funded. For example, the speech failed to explain how funding from the cancelled HS2 project will be reinvested into the North’s transport infrastructure, beyond a vague commitment to delivering faster and more reliable journeys.”
ABP signs MoU with Taiwan on journey to net zero
Port operator ABP has signed an MoU to co-operate with the Taiwan International Ports Corporation to exchange information and experience about floating offshore wind-related port facilities and for the exploration of future business collaboration opportunities.
ABP CEO Henrik L. Pedersen said: “This agreement with Taiwan International Ports Corporation represents an exciting new stage in our journey towards net zero, for which international collaboration is key. Floating offshore wind presents huge opportunities to the UK, from becoming a global leader in green energy generation to creating significant jobs, prosperity and energy security. We look forward to working with TIPC to exchange ideas and accelerate the advancement of this technology.”
The MOU was signed by TIPC Vice President of Business Shu-hui Cheng, and ABP Head of Offshore Wind Andy Reay, and witnessed by TIPC Chairman Hsien-yi Lee and British Office Taipei Representative John Dennis.
Shu-hui Cheng said: “The third phase of offshore wind power development is about to unfold in Taiwan. With larger scale wind turbines, localization policies, etc., there will be more demand for land and space in ports of Taiwan, and the demonstration plan of floating wind will also bring up more requirements and challenges. Through the signing of the MOU with ABP and information sharing between the two parties, I believe that TIPC will be fully prepared on port planning and construction in coordination with offshore wind power policies.
“I would also like to express my deepest appreciation for ABP to visit Taiwan and sign MOU with TIPC despite their busy schedule. I believe that the signing of the memorandum is the beginning of mutual cooperation and an important development of future port cooperation between UK and Taiwan.”
ABP is the UK’s leading and largest port operator with a network of 21 ports around UK, handling a quarter of all UK port volumes, worth £157bn in 2022. It provides critical support services to various national sectors, including energy, cruise tourism, container shipping, agricultural and forestry products, automotive, and steel. Many of ABP’s ports are in close proximity to major British offshore wind farms, and ABP offers tailored services at its various ports to meet wind farm needs.
For example, the Port of Hull hosts the Siemens Gamesa wind turbine blade factory, the Port of Grimsby hosts Europe’s largest offshore wind turbine operations and maintenance centre and the Ports of Lowestoft and Barrow also host significant O&M hubs. ABP has bold plans for future growth of its offshore wind related activities, including a transformational project to develop a major floating offshore wind hub port at Port Talbot. To further foster exchange and cooperation, TIPC Chairman, Lee took a delegation to the UK in July to visit ABP CEO, Henrik L. Pedersen and share experiences as well as to invite ABP to visit Taiwan.
Wakefield recruitment firm becomes employee owned
The ownership of Wakefield recruitment firm Pratap Partnership has been transferred to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
Nik Pratap said: “Establishing Pratap Partnership with the other shareholders has been the proudest achievement of my career so far. The process of nurturing and expanding our current team has deepened that sense of accomplishment.
“Completing this transaction to place the ownership of the company in the hands of our employees is an achievement that is hard to put into words. It has been the most rewarding and exciting experience that I can imagine.
“We have had a lot of fun building our brand, developing our strategy and working with our clients & candidates. This change will allow us to continue with our forward momentum.
“The experience of going through the EOT transaction has allowed me to think a lot more about our future legacy, our purpose and to develop a business that continues to create value for our team, our clients and candidates for many years to come.”
The business was established in 2019 and has grown through investing in its team and expanding to its current size of 20.
Karen Caswell, one of the firm’s longest serving employees, will step up to be a director of the EOT.
Karen said: “I have worked with Nik for 10 years. He was/is well-liked and respected across our network and for good reason.
“He is very knowledgeable, honest and transparent, and it is easy to see why people have worked for/with him for so long. I was keen to continue working with Nik as I felt it would benefit me longer term in many ways: flexibility, autonomy, new opportunities etc.
“We have a brilliant team at Pratap Partnership, everyone works together and supports each other, both professionally and personally, and the EOT pays a testament to the hard work, determination and drive of all the employees who all have the same goal: to provide a top tier service to all clients and candidates.”
Advisers included Adam Ames and Andy Irvine at Shorts and Russell Bainbridge and Paul Trudgill at Knights.
Andy Irvine, audit partner, said: “We are delighted to have helped advise Nik and the rest of the shareholders with the transfer of the company into employee ownership. This is an important milestone in the ongoing development of the business and we look forward to helping the company in the next stage of its journey.”
New export programme promises growth for UK dairy industry
The UK’s dairy industry is set to be boosted by a brand-new programme to increase exports, the Government announced today.
The Dairy Export Programme promises to help UK agri-businesses grow by seizing new export opportunities and exploiting overseas markets through a comprehensive package of export support for an industry whose SMEs already export goods worth more than £2 billion of goods a year to over 135 countries.
The Programme is a direct result of this funding and forms part of a wider package of Government support for agriculture, food and drink. This includes an investment of £2 million to boost DBT’s programme of global tradeshows and missions, which will be delivered in partnership with industry and the Food and Drink Export Council.
The programme will provide a wide range of targeted support for businesses, through education sessions on how to boost exports and target new markets and trade promotion activity, including an inward buyer trade mission and a UK Dairy Showcase.
It will also provide specialist resource in priority markets dedicated to supporting dairy exports and market intelligence support to help businesses exploit overseas opportunities.
NFU Dairy Board Chair Michael Oakes said: “The NFU has been working closely with dairy producers, exporters and government through the Dairy Export Taskforce to examine ways to reduce trade barriers for dairy, improve market access and identify new opportunities for growth.
This new £1m programme shows how industry and government collaboration can help drive UK dairy exports, target new markets and bolster our exporting strength. With the global demand for dairy set to rise significantly, the UK should be leading the way when it comes to the trade of safe, high-quality and sustainable UK dairy products.
Work completes on character apartments in historic Leeds building
Work has completed on a unique development of 19 apartments at Lambert’s House on Lower Briggate in Leeds city centre, which is now fully let, just four weeks after appointing a new estate agent to market the scheme.
Lambert’s House is an historic Grade II listed building, thought to be Leeds city centre’s oldest dwelling that dates back over 400 years. When Zenko Properties was appointed to provide management advice and let the scheme, there were 10 empty apartments.
Managing Director, Tobias Duczenko, from Zenko Properties, said: “It was clear from the start that Lambert’s House is a great place to live, but it needed some investment and repositioning in order to appeal to discerning tenants.
“We worked very closely with the landlord, providing advice and guidance, as well as property design and maintenance recommendations to ensure the apartments, and all of the communal areas, were finished to the very highest of standards.
“Lambert’s House really is the jewel in the crown when it comes to individual character apartments. This is not a copy and paste development, and the greatest of respect has been shown for Lambert’s House and the historic yard’s remarkable architectural heritage.
“Every care has been taken to bring this important historic building back to life, retaining as much of the original fabric as possible and faithfully matching new materials with old wherever possible, as well as leaving historic brickwork and timbers exposed.
“Fully restored and repurposed without compromise, the 19 apartments are spread across three floors, and all have high-tech home comforts. The stylish duplex, studios and beautifully appointed one, two and three bedroom homes are truly unique, and they have been designed to be as individual as the residents that rent them.”
Lambert’s House will also now be professionally managed by Zenko Properties.Landlord, Reece Cohen, said: “The guidance and expertise provided by Zenko Properties has been invaluable. Our fabulous scheme is now fully occupied, and record rents have been achieved. The team worked hard to deliver a great result for both us and our tenants and we feel very confident in the fact that Zenko Properties will be managing the scheme for us moving forward.”
Lambert’s House is widely regarded as the oldest surviving timber-framed building in Leeds city centre and is Grade II listed. Historically the house and traditional Leeds yard were known as Lambert’s Arcade. Lambert’s House and the yard were originally built by William Lambert and the Lambert family, who were wealthy grocers and tea traders.National property award for Yorkshire deal
Peveril Securities has won a national award for its part in a transformational deal.
The development arm of the Bowmer + Kirkland Group, Peveril Securities formed a joint venture – Urbo (West Bar) Ltd – with Urbo Regeneration to develop a £300m mixed use project in Sheffield.
The ground-breaking regeneration deal is the largest single city centre investment ever seen in the South Yorkshire city and won the Best Regional Deal category at the prestigious EG Awards, for the real estate industry.
The Best Regional Deal category recognises projects that could not only show high returns but are innovative in bringing life back to our regions. The panel of expert judges said that Urbo (West Bar) Ltd impressed them for the scale of the investment it was able to secure as well as being a catalyst for huge redevelopment.
Working with Sheffield City Council to bring the deal to the city, Urbo will deliver 100,000 sq ft of Grade A office space, 368 Build to Rent apartments, a 450-space multi-storey car park and considerable new public realm during the first phase of the scheme. Construction is due to complete in the middle of next year.
The wider West Bar development is a £300 million regeneration scheme on a seven-acre brownfield site on the inner ring road in Sheffield. When complete it will offer 525 apartments, 565,000 sq ft of office accommodation and public spaces. The project is expected to create 8,000 new jobs when completed.
Ralph Jones, Managing Director of Peveril Securities, said: “This landmark funding deal and the start of construction of the first phase has established West Bar as a regionally important, large-scale regeneration project for Sheffield. This was completed against the odds and after many years of careful work at a time of unprecedented economic challenge.”
Peter Swallow, Managing Director of Urbo, said: “We are thrilled to receive recognition from our peers for what we have achieved in bringing our vision for West Bar to reality. It is a testament to the conviction of our team, Sheffield City Council, Legal & General and our professional advisers who have all worked tirelessly over 10 years to make the scheme commercially viable and deliverable.”
Cllr Ben Miskell, Chair of Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee, Sheffield City Council, said: “This award proves how important long-term partnerships between the council, private sector developers and major funding institutions are and what can be achieved as a result. It is fantastic to see one of the exciting regeneration projects in Sheffield recognised at a national level.”
Gordon Aitchison, Director of Investment and Development at Legal & General Management Real Assets, said: “We’re delighted to have been awarded the Best Regional Deal at the EG Awards. Sheffield West Bar is a stellar example of what can come as a result of meaningful, proactive partnerships; as we continue to work alongside Urbo and Sheffield City Council, we look forward to delivering a vibrant new quarter for the centre of the city.”
Shorts make audit and accounts director promotion
Shorts have promoted Kirstie Wilson to the position of audit and accounts director with immediate effect.
Since joining Shorts in 2016 as an audit and accounts senior, Kirstie has earned promotions to manager in 2018 and then senior manager in 2021.
Her progression to director is testament to her exemplary skills and continued commitment to excellence, and to the active role she has played in the development of the corporate team during that time.
On confirming her promotion, audit and accounts partner Howard Freeman said: “Kirstie’s promotion is very much deserved, and she has worked hard to achieve it.
“As director, Kirstie will take on the role of engagement leader on a portfolio of our clients, will hold responsible individual (RI) status, and in due course will be able to sign audit reports on behalf of the firm, in addition to leading non-audit work. A fantastic achievement, as Kirstie will be the first non-partner to hold this position in Shorts.
“She will also take on the role of engagement leader for most of our charity clients, having obtained the ICAEW Diploma in Charity Accounting earlier this year.”
Kirstie said: “I am delighted to have been promoted to audit and accounts director at Shorts, and I’m proud to take the next step on my professional journey. Shorts provide an excellent environment for learning and development, and my promotion demonstrates the genuine commitment within the firm to support the team with structured career paths.
“I am very much looking forward to working with existing and future clients and helping to contribute to the continued success of the firm.”
Kirstie is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and holds a Diploma in Charity Accounting. She is a Xero certified adviser, proficient in many cloud-based accounting systems, such as Xero and Sage and has experience working with both incorporated and unincorporated businesses.
In December 2022 Kirstie was also appointed the youngest ever trustee at Ashgate Hospice.
