- A Skills Bill that helps businesses and workers, while establishing Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) as integral for the long term
- A Trade and Customs Bill, which gives confidence to businesses and prepares them for the digital trade expansion ahead
- The speech should consider how SMEs can benefit from wider technology adoption
- The speech should also outline how HS2 funding will be reinvested into the North’s transport infrastructure
Doncaster Chamber produces wish list for King’s Speech
Doncaster Chamber is calling for the King’s speech to announce legislative changes that will benefit the region.
The King’s Speech is a major part of the State Opening of Parliament Ceremony, and is where Government puts forward the various laws that it wants to pass over the coming months. With a theme of setting our country on the right path, the 2023 iteration of this is said to focus on how the UK can seize new opportunities, safeguard its economic prosperity, and ultimately deliver a brighter future.
Eager to see these ambitions extend to South Yorkshire, Doncaster Chamber is highlighting the need for legislation that will help the local business community to grow, access the right talent, overcome present challenges, and have greater long-term confidence.
Those key asks are:
Government plans ‘minimum service level’ laws to mitigate disruption
The government plans to impose minimum service level regulations for rail workers, ambulance staff and border security staff to mitigate disruption and ensure vital public services continue if strikes are called.
The legislation brings the UK in line with countries like France, Italy, Spain, and the US where public services reliably continue during strikes. The International Labour Organisation also recognises Minimum Service Levels as a sensible solution to protect the public from serious consequences of strikes.
The minimum service levels are designed to be effective and proportionate by balancing the ability to take strike action with ensuring we can keep our borders secure, supporting people to make important journeys including accessing work, education, and healthcare, and allowing people to get the emergency care they need.
Earlier this year, the government consulted widely on proposals to introduce minimum service levels legislation across a range of sectors, under the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act which received Royal Assent in July. The responses to these consultations have been published today with the legislation set to be laid in parliament tomorrow.
For border security, the regulations will apply to employees of Border Force and selected HM Passport Office staff where passport services are required for the purposes of national security. The laws will set out that border security services should be provided at a level that means that they are no less effective than if a strike were not taking place. It will also ensure all ports and airports remain open on a strike.
For train operators, it will mean the equivalent of 40% of their normal timetable can operate as normal and, in the case of strikes that affect rail infrastructure services, certain priority routes can remain open.
Minimum service level regulations for ambulance workers will ensure that vital ambulance services in England will continue throughout any strike action, ensuring that cases that are life-threatening, or where there is no reasonable clinical alternative to an ambulance response, are responded to.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “We are doing everything in our power to stop unions de-railing Christmas for millions of people. This legislation will ensure more people will be able to travel to see their friends and family and get the emergency care they need.
We cannot go on relying on short term fixes – including calling on our Armed Forces or civil servants – to mitigate the disruption caused by strike action. That’s why we’re taking the right long-term decision to bring in minimum service levels, in line with other countries, to keep people safe and continue delivering the vital public services that hard-working people rely on.”
Where minimum service level regulations are in place and strike action is called, employers can issue work notices to identify people who are reasonably required to work to ensure minimum service levels are met.
The law requires unions to take reasonable steps and ensure their members who are identified with a work notice comply and if a union fails to do this, they will lose their legal protection from damages claims.
Last year, we raised the maximum damages that courts can award against a union for unlawful strike action. For the biggest unions, the maximum award has risen from £250,000 to £1 million.
Groundbreaking finance deal wins major award for West Bar in Sheffield
Sheffield’s £300m West Bar development has won a national award for its progress in transforming a major part of the city centre.
Urbo (West Bar) Ltd, a JV involving Urbo Regeneration and Peveril Securities, was recognised, alongside Sheffield City Council, at the EG Awards in London for completing a ground-breaking deal to secure £150m funding from Legal & General, enabling delivery of the development’s first phase.
The funding deal secured with Legal & General for West Bar is the largest single city centre investment deal ever seen in Sheffield. It enables delivery of the first phase comprising 100,000 sq ft of Grade A office space, 368 Build to Rent residential apartments, a 450 space multistorey car park and considerable new public realm. Construction is progressing apace on site with completion due by mid-2024.
The West Bar regeneration scheme covers a 7-acre brownfield site on the Inner Ring Road between Sheffield’s Kelham Island, Cathedral and Castlegate Quarters. It is to be made up of a million sq ft of space including over 565,000 sq ft of office accommodation with amenity, public realm and over 525 apartments. The project expects to create up to 8,000 new jobs when completed.
Urbo MD Peter Swallow said: “We are thrilled to receive recognition from our peers, both nationally and regionally, for what we have achieved in bringing our vision for West Bar to reality. It is testament to the conviction of our own team, Sheffield City Council, Legal & General and our professional advisors that have worked tirelessly over ten years to make the scheme commercially viable and deliverable.
“These many years of assembly work involved detailed negotiation with landowners and tenants of 103 separate property titles within the development boundary. The team secured alternative and improved premises for these occupiers such that zero jobs were lost and a full compulsory purchase process, including a full CPO Public Inquiry to ultimately secure 100% freehold ownership with vacant possession, paved the way for our deal with Legal & General. This is a rare and excellent example of best practice approach to area-wide urban regeneration.”
Ralph Jones of Peveril Securities added: “This landmark funding deal and the start of construction on the first phase, with completion expected in 2024, 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.
The EG Awards is the biggest and most prestigious annual event for the UK real estate industry, celebrating the very best deals, developments, businesses, talent, and places. The Best Regional Deal category recognises projects that could not only show high returns but were innovative in bringing life back to our regions. The panel of highly regarded expert judges said that Urbo impressed them for the scale of investment it was able to secure for its city, as well as being a catalyst for huge redevelopment and changing of place.
2,000 Scunthorpe jobs on the line as British Steel reveals intent to shut down blast furnaces
British Steel has revealed £1.25 billion decarbonisation proposals that unions say could see 2,000 jobs lost in Scunthorpe.
The company is planning to shut down blast furnaces at the manufacturing site, replacing them with greener and cheaper electric arc furnaces. The new furnaces could be operational by late 2025 and would replace the aging iron and steelmaking operations in Scunthorpe which the business says are responsible for the vast majority of its CO2 emissions. British Steel has started preliminary talks with trade unions about electrification, and has promised to support employees affected by the decarbonisation plans. It has agreed for its proposals to be reviewed by an external specialist on behalf of the trade unions. The company added that it is working with North Lincolnshire Council on a masterplan to attract new businesses and jobs to the Scunthorpe site, parts of which could become vacant if the proposals go ahead.Firm appointed to deliver £16m Goole community hub
Plans to invest in a new town centre community hub in Goole have seen Willmott Dixon appointed for a £16m project to deliver a multi-purpose facility that provides health, fitness and leisure under one roof.
The company has been chosen by East Riding of Yorkshire Council via the YORbuild3 framework for the Goole Hub redevelopment on North Street in the centre of the East Yorkshire town.
The project, which received £3m from the Goole Town Deal, involves demolishing much of the existing East Riding Leisure Goole facility – with just the swimming pool building and sports blocks retained – to make way for Goole Hub.
Designed by Watson Batty Architects, Goole Hub will include more than 1,600 square metres of new floor space delivering a variety of community-based services such as a food court, library, customer service centre, laser tag area, ten-pin bowling alley, soft play, and learner pool with health suite.
In addition, Willmott Dixon will refurbish the existing swimming pool, changing facilities and spectator area.
Nick Heath, director at Willmott Dixon, said: “The all-new Goole Hub will provide a connection between culture, recreation and leisure in one easily accessible location and there is a real ambition to create a new destination within the town. We’re therefore really pleased to have been selected as the preferred bidder by East Riding of Yorkshire Council to deliver this exciting project.
“Aging leisure facilities are fast becoming out of touch with modern requirements, so it’s our job to not just deliver a building but create a high-quality multipurpose destination for the people of Goole, which will enhance lives and serve multiple generations. It will incorporate sustainable energy technologies – such as solar panels and air source heat pumps – to ensure it performs more efficiently and runs as healthily as its users.
“Parts of the existing facility will remain in use while the new building is constructed, so we’re looking forward to getting on site and beginning works to deliver a new hub for the town.”
External work will include improving pedestrian access to the building as well as new landscaped areas to provide public spaces for the community to relax and enjoy outside. The development will also create additional parking spaces for visitors.
New vision revealed for historic Elsecar Ironworks
A new vision for the former site of the Elsecar Ironworks has been announced, including a new heritage railway, new rail college, outdoor events area and more.
The vision for the historic site, now a scheduled ancient monument, has been carefully developed over the last two years, based on extensive public consultation and working closely with Historic England, as a legacy project of Barnsley Council’s Heritage Action Zone partnership.
The future vision for the former ironworks includes:
- New heritage railway destination, including a reconstructed 1849 Fitzwilliam locomotive, powered by sustainable fuels
- New rail college and rail technology test track, training more than 400 students each year
- Advanced engineering workshops showcasing the region’s innovation
- New ‘Cultural Canteen’ and outdoor events and performance area, against the spectacular backdrop of the ironworks furnaces and restored blast wall
- Active Travel Hub and Cycle Hire, to enable families and visitors to travel to Elsecar, and explore the Elsecar Valley, on foot and by bike
Nicholas Associates Group makes senior bid manager appointment
Apprentice to Boardroom recruitment specialists, Nicholas Associates Group has strengthened its sales team following the appointment of Jenny Begley as group bid manager.
With a national remit and a central role at the company HQ in Sheffield, Jenny joins the team to fortify the firm’s strategy to increase its stronghold in securing volume contracts with leading employers in the industrial, engineering, construction, apprenticeship, graduate, and white-collar sectors.
An accredited member of the ‘Association of Proposal Management Professionals’, Jenny has over 20 years of experience working in senior roles in the recruitment sector as a bid and proposal specialist. She also successfully led the bid management process for the recruitment of 1,500 employees and volunteers for the 2022 Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham.
Reporting to group sales director Sunny Singh, Jenny will manage the entire bid and contract renewal process. She will oversee that all the firm’s submissions meet the stringent criteria required to be considered for substantial recruitment contracts across the firm’s portfolio of brands which include, Apprentice Employment Agency, Stafforce, Cra-Cro Site Services, Nicholas Associates, Ashley Kate HR & Finance, Main Board and Olano.
Jenny’s mandate encompasses managing the complete tender process, from pre-qualification to contract award. She will coordinate and project-manage national stakeholder teams, ensuring the timely delivery of responses for various recruitment solutions including Managed Services, RPO, Total Talent Management and Consultancy.
Sunny Singh, group sales director, said: “Jenny and I have previously worked together very successfully, and I have first-hand knowledge of an exceptional bid-to-win ratio. Her expertise will undoubtedly benefit the Group’s positioning in competitive tender situations.”
Jenny’s extensive experience encompasses bid preparation for temporary, permanent, and professional staffing, search and selection, executive search, outsourcing, training, outplacement, and HR consulting. Her addition to the team will significantly enhance the service offering provided by Nicholas Associates Group.
Reward and The Vault to champion mental health for 14 million grassroots football enthusiasts
Leeds-based Reward Finance Group has forged a pioneering partnership with the Football Mental Health Alliance (FMHA) and England’s County Football Associations (CFAs) to bolster mental health support for all involved in grassroots football.
At the heart of this partnership is ‘The Vault’, FMHA’s free mental health platform, developed collaboratively by psychologists, coaches, parents, carers, licensed FIFA Agents and ex-pros. The goal is to address mental health challenges in grassroots football in a way that is relatable and easy to understand for everyone, regardless of their level of involvement.
Reward’s financial support will facilitate the expansion of The Vault, which offers expert-led, football-themed content such as webinars, podcasts, a mental health playbook and articles that delve into the intersection of mental health and football.
Additionally, it provides mental health first aid training and signposting to specific mental health support, all tailored for football clubs to promote open conversations and create a more positive and supportive culture within grassroots football.
Danny Matharu, founder of the FMHA and The Vault, said: “We are elated to partner with Reward. They have a culture which recognises the importance of health and wellbeing, demonstrated by the recent launch of their internal Wellness Team, dedicated to supporting colleagues. This approach resonates with our values and we look forward to working together to use the medium of football to promote mental health.
“Statistics show that one in four people experience mental health difficulties each year and one in six working-age adults have mental health symptoms at any given time. Mental health conditions often develop early, with 75% of cases emerging by age 18, and men aged 40-49 have the highest suicide rates in the UK.
“The Vault is dedicated to creating an inclusive and empowered environment where players, communities, coaches and volunteers can thrive both on and off the field, providing free support for all ages through anonymous sign-up, ensuring confidentiality and comfort.
“Mental health is a top priority for CFAs across England, and with support from Reward, we can continue to empower the English grassroots game by offering consistent, football-themed mental health tools.”
Nick Smith, group Managing Director of Reward Finance Group, said: “Our dedicated focus is promoting positive mental health and wellbeing within our team. Hence, partnering with Danny and the FMHA became a new way to further that aim. The evident lack of mental health support in the football community means this digital suite is a truly innovative development.
“Our partnership with the FMHA follows the launch of our 2023-2024 corporate charity partner, Andy’s Man Club, which is a men’s suicide prevention charity offering free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups across the United Kingdom and online. At Reward, we strive to ignite a meaningful shift in mental health perceptions and to ensure robust support is accessible to those in need.”
Places for People acquires Doncaster site to build new affordable homes
Places for People has acquired a site in Doncaster where it will build 59 affordable new homes. The placemaker and social enterprise concluded the deal to purchase the site from Godwin Developments with planning consent already in place.
The 3.5-acre site on Watch House Lane, Bentley – an area of Doncaster – has been vacant for over ten years. Places for People will transform it into a new community providing a range of contemporary two and three-bedroom family homes to be offered through a mixed tenure approach with affordable rent and shared ownership homes on offer.
Places for People aims to start construction on site in spring 2024 with the first homes expected to be ready by the end of that year. In an area with strong demand for affordable housing, the scheme will contribute over half of the affordable housing need in Bentley according to the Housing Need Study1 by City of Doncaster Council.
Nilam Buchanan, Regional Managing Director, Central and North at Places for People, said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to transform this disused land in Doncaster into a well-designed new neighbourhood that will provide the affordable homes that local people need.
“Places for People is driven by its commitment to adding lasting social value to the communities we build, so we will ensure this development becomes somewhere people are proud to live with high-quality construction and attractive green spaces.
“Thanks to Godwin Developments, we are taking on a site with planning permission already granted, putting us in a strong position to move ahead swiftly and deliver this exciting and sustainable new development.”
Matt Chandler, Managing Director at Godwin Developments, said: “We are really pleased to be working yet again with Places for People, this time on a project in Doncaster which will facilitate the delivery of 59 much-needed homes for the local community.
“Utilising our in-house development and planning expertise, we have been able to advance the transformation of this disused brownfield site into a thriving new community, benefiting from its own green spaces as well as access to the Trans Pennine Trail.
“We look forward to seeing Places for People deliver these modern, energy-efficient homes in due course while as a business we continue to focus on developing further residential, commercial, and industrial opportunities that match our strategy.”
The plans for the new community include a children’s play area, extensive landscaping including a central ‘village green’ communal space and wildflower meadows.
Wakefield firm swoops for Leeds management consultancy
The Board of Leeds-based management consultancy Project Rome Limited (Rome) has unanimously accepted an undisclosed offer from Wakefield’s thevaluecircle LLP (tvc) for the company’s assets.
The agreement will strengthen thevaluecircle’s capacity and help to meet growing demand for their services in the health, care and education practice, introduce complimentary new service lines to customers, allow thevaluecircle to bring forward tvc’s plans to establish a presence in the Sustainability and Financial Services consultancy markets, and bring governance and change management expertise to the existing Rome portfolio of clients.
The combined business will support a client base of over 150 organisations, including NHS Trusts, major utilities, listed financial institutions and regional sports bodies.
David Cockayne – founder and Chief Executive, thevaluecircle, said: “Acquiring Project Rome represents a natural progression for us, it enables us to leverage
the expertise of highly regarded senior professionals and expand our product offer.
“Equally important to us, is that we share the same values, have a similar backstory and we are already feeling the benefit of that shared culture when we are working with clients. I can’t wait to work with Karl and the Rome team – building a northern powerhouse that delivers nationwide!”
Karl Milner (Project Rome MD) will assume the role of executive director at thevaluecircle
and join the management team. Karl will take charge of integrating and developing the wider service to clients, and lead the communications and engagement practice.
He said: “These are both successful companies. Although we both had a presence in the similar markets we have offered unique and diverse array of services. My job will be to knit the two companies together and present a compelling and well-resourced proposition to the market.”
