Quickline Communications has won two major national awards for rescuing isolated communities with its rollout of fast and reliable broadband.

The East Yorkshire-based provider has now been honoured for the rollout of both its full fibre and 5G fixed wireless internet connectivity. At the Adtran UK Fibre Awards 2023, hosted by global internet and communications equipment giants Adtran in London, Quickline claimed the Best Rural Innovation Award. The awards are held to shine a light on the innovative work of alternative network providers across the country. The accolade recognises the company’s dedication to bringing isolated communities up to speed through its full fibre network and was awarded to Quickline for “the most innovative use and combination of full fibre products and services to solve business challenges”. Quickline was also highly commended in the Rural Fibre Service category in the same awards for the positive impact it is having on the communities it serves. One of the judges said: “This is awarded for the significant impact fibre rollout has had on the rural communities they serve. Quickline have sought to reach these communities which have, until then, been underserved with full fibre connectivity and so created a positive impact in the rural community they serve.” As well as the Adtran UK Fibre award, Quickline won the Wireless Innovation Award in the Connected Britain Awards. The winning entry focused on Quickline’s successful deployment of the UK’s first 5G standalone fixed wireless network, providing an end-to-end solution to connect even the most remote communities. The Connected Britain Awards formed part of the Connected Britain show held at Excel London, which brought together more than 5,000 leaders shaping the country’s digital future. CEO Sean Royce and Chief Technology Officer Ian Smith also delivered sessions at the flagship event, engaging with audiences on how Quickline is tackling digital inequality and connecting hard-to-reach communities. Mr Royce said: “We’re very proud to win these two industry awards in recognition of the significant strides we’ve made in bridging the digital divide and providing rural communities with rapid and reliable internet access. “It’s especially pleasing that these awards recognise the rollout of both our full fibre and 5G fixed wireless technology. “Our sessions at the Connected Britain show also provided an excellent platform to share our story with leading industry professionals and other key stakeholders, and discuss some of the most pressing issues facing our industry including the important matter of bridging the digital divide and connecting hard to reach communities. “These awards are further endorsements of the transformational difference we’re making to rural communities across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire that would otherwise be denied the digital connectivity that is absolutely essential for so many aspects of daily life.”

Drax Power Station has a new four-legged friend to help sniff out hazards to keep people safe. Sparky, a state-of-the-art robotic dog, has joined the plant and will carry out inspections and capture critical data on machinery.

The robodog has joined Drax’s Condition Based Maintenance team to spot potential failures on the plant before they happen. The bright yellow dog is fitted with a camera which enables it to conduct critical visual and thermal inspections on equipment such as hot boilers while its human controllers are kept safe away from the equipment. As Sparky gets familiar with the plant, he will be programmed to follow tailored routes around the site. This will enable him to operate autonomously, enhancing efficiency even further. Ensuring the safety, health, and wellbeing of people on site is the company’s top priority. Drax’s investment in Sparky is part of a wider drive to improve safety standards across the company’s global operations. Richard Barber, Maintenance Systems Lead Engineer, said: “A robotic dog might not be what you have in mind when you think about safety, but Sparky is a real game changer for us. The technology enables our team to collect better information about our equipment, while also keeping our colleagues out of harm’s way. “Its optical panoramic camera allows us to zoom in-depth on equipment and it is fitted with a thermal infrared camera, which means we can see any hot spot or unusual thermal anomalies on the machinery. We want to prevent faults from happening, not simply repair them when they occur. With Sparky on patrol at the power station, we will be able to do just that.” Sparky will have plenty of room to roam around, with Drax Power Station being one of the country’s largest industrial sites. The plant near Selby has four operational power generating units, each as high as a 15-storey office block, a main chimney nearly as tall as the London Shard, and more than 1,800 miles of steel tubing, enough to stretch from John O’Groats to Land’s End and back again. The four-legged friend is the brainchild of Boston Dynamics, an American engineering and robotics design company which started as a spin-off from the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Sparky is part of the Spot pedigree of robodogs from the firm.

Lincolnshire Co-op’s Chief People Officer Heather Lee has won the Executive Leader of the Year Award at the People in Retail Awards 2023. Presented at the Marriott Hotel in London, the award is a tribute to leaders who shape the future of their organisations and ignite industry-wide innovation and drive positive cultural change. The judging panel of the People in Retail Awards 2023 sought senior executives who stand as trailblazers in their field, propelling operational excellence and cultural transformation from the highest echelons of leadership. The judges’ summary said: “Heather Lee’s remarkable journey as a leader has left an indelible mark on Lincolnshire Co-op and the retail industry as a whole. Her strategic acumen, commitment to a people-centric approach, and unwavering dedication to positive change position her as a true beacon of visionary leadership. “It was inspiring to learn about Heather’s approach to the workplace and her profound impact on the local community. It’s Heather’s unwavering commitment to community that truly sets her apart.” Heather Lee added: “It was a fantastic evening of celebrations, and I’m thrilled and honoured to have received such a prestigious award. “This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the People Team at Lincolnshire Co-op. It’s a true reflection of our collective efforts to make the society a great place to work.”

A group of Doncaster businesses including major employers to enterprising SMEs have discussed what it means to be Armed Forces Friendly at an event organised by the local Chamber of Commerce. Delegates explored what kind of career guidance is currently offered to veterans in the region, what more businesses could be doing to support them as they make a transition into civilian life, and the skills that reservists and cadets often bring to the workforce as well. To help those who were in attendance navigate the various nuances and complexities of these issues, the event also featured representation from the Reserve Forces & Cadets Association for Yorkshire and the Humber. Dan Fell, Chief Exec of Doncaster Chamber, said: “This is a very pertinent topic as the labour market remains extremely tight and businesses are exploring new ways of accessing the talent that they need to grow and thrive. “The extensive research that was conducted for our Local Skills Improvement Plan revealed that we have a very progressive and open-minded business community here in South Yorkshire. Employers are receptive to talent coming from anywhere, whether that be in the form of apprentices, ex-offenders or, of course, our Armed Forces community. “One of the practical recommendations from that LSIP is about how we can reach the latter group by improving the pathways available to veterans and reservists, many of whom we know are well positioned to meet the needs of local businesses. The Armed Forces community certainly has a lot to offer with their transferable skills, strong sense of discipline and incredible work ethic, and we must ensure that these are being properly harnessed. Given the amount of money that many organisations in our region spend on skills each year, I believe a disproportionately low amount goes towards connecting veterans with employers and maximising their talents. “With that said, we are keen to really get under the bonnet of this and help drive forward progress wherever we can. As a Chamber, we are ourselves signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant, and recently attained Silver Status under the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS). “Most importantly of all, we are keen to ensure that our members can access the untapped talent of the Armed Forces community, which is why today’s roundtable was so useful. We covered a lot of ground at the event, including: how employers can identify relevant experiences that veterans might be able to translate into the world of work; the ways in which recruitment processes can be streamlined; and what steps need to be taken in the future.” Echoing these sentiments, Pauline King, Regional Employer Engagement Director for the Reserve Forces & Cadets Association for Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “Thank you to Doncaster Chamber for organising an insightful and thought-provoking roundtable discussion with a selection of local forces-friendly employers. The positive ideas brought to the table will hopefully enable a more creative and practical approach to recruiting from the pool of talent that is the Armed Forces community.”

Ørsted is now trialling drones with an albatross-sized 2.6 metre wingspan to carry cargo of up to 68kg within the Hornsea 1 windfarm. The use of these drones will reduce costs and time as well as improving operational safety and efficiency. Drones mean less work disturbance as turbines don’t have to be shut down when cargo is delivered. They avoid risk, making it safer for those working on the wind farm and minimise the need for multiple journeys by ship, reducing carbon emissions and climate change impacts. Instead, the drones will be operated from existing crew transfer vessels and Service Operating Vessels already on site. Ørsted has used smaller drones for some time with much lighter loads and is now leading the industry in deployment on a larger scale. The company is actively seeking partnerships with the best drone cargo operators and services providers to help grow the supply chain in the UK. Mikkel Haugaard Windolf, who is heading the project for Ørsted’s offshore logistics team said: “At Ørsted we want to use our industry leading position to help push forward innovations that reduce costs and maximise efficiency and safety in the offshore wind sector. Drone cargo delivery is an important step in that direction. “We believe the UK can be the first country to commercialise this system in offshore wind farms, acting as global leaders.”

A joint bid is being submitted for York and North Yorkshire to promote the multi-billion pound visitor economy which is already recognised across the globe and provide support for tens of thousands of tourism workers. Plans have been announced for the over-arching bid for a Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) to cover both York and North Yorkshire to maximise the potential of the tourism sector. The move is the latest indication of an increasingly close working relationship between City of York Council and North Yorkshire Council with the prospect of a devolution deal and a mayoral combined authority. It is hoped that the joint bid, which has been submitted to the Visit England tourism organisation, will ensure that the greatest benefits are achieved for both York and North Yorkshire’s tourism industry. Tourism is worth more than £3.2 billion each year to York and North Yorkshire’s economy, and in excess of 60,000 workers are employed in the sector. Council leader, Cllr Carl Les, said: “The visitor economy is key to the vitality for both York and North Yorkshire, bringing in billions of pounds every year and providing a career and livelihood for tens of thousands of people. “The decision to submit a joint bid for York and North Yorkshire will allow us to pursue a co-ordinated approach to promoting the visitor economy and maximise the support that we can provide to the industry. “It shows how a close working relationship is developing between the councils, which is due to increase further with the proposed devolution deal. “We want as many people to experience the wonderful places where we live and work, as well as ensuring the communities of York and North Yorkshire are given the support they need to benefit from the visitor economy.” The joint bid between North Yorkshire Council and Make it York, the city’s destination management organisation which is linked to City of York Council, has been submitted to Visit England. A decision is then expected from a panel involving tourism officials and representatives from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport by the end of October. City of York Council’s leader, Cllr Claire Douglas, said: “York and North Yorkshire are wonderful places to visit – we’re extremely proud of our world-class attractions and the warm welcome our region extends to visitors from across the globe. “Tourism forms an important part of York’s economy, supporting thousands of jobs in our city. We want to ensure that our visitor economy continues to thrive in a sustainable way that benefits everyone – visitors, residents and businesses. “We’re delighted to be working closely with North Yorkshire Council to promote our tourism offer. As we move towards a mayoral combined authority, it’s great to see this partnership flourishing.” Local Visitor Economy Partnerships involve both the private and public sectors and will need to follow a new national process to be eligible for support and potential funding from the Government. Established destinations in York and North Yorkshire, such as the coast, the Yorkshire Dales, the North York Moors, Harrogate and market towns, are due to be supported through the proposed Local Visitor Economy Partnership. A draft destination management plan for North Yorkshire and a proposed tourism strategy overseen by Make it York are forming the foundations for the bid. Both documents will be considered by the relevant council executives by the start of next year. North Yorkshire Council are continuing to engage with tourism businesses in the county as part of the draft destination management plan, which will provide the first countywide vision for promoting the visitor economy after the authority launched in April. There is a significant crossover in the priorities of the draft strategies for both York and North Yorkshire, adding even greater weight to pursue the joint bid. Both of the proposed plans are looking to promote a year-round visitor economy, while ensuring that it is heavily themed on sustainability and that the industry can thrive alongside communities living in York and North Yorkshire. It is hoped the promotional drive will ensure visitors stay for longer and explore more of what York and North Yorkshire have to offer, while attracting more people to travel from overseas. Key aspects to drive forward tourism in North Yorkshire are highlighting the outdoor pursuits in the county, promoting key destinations such as market towns and the coast and the wealth of locally produced food and drink on offer. York is looking to capitalise specifically on its culture and heritage, with world-famous landmarks such as York Minster and Clifford’s Tower drawing in visitors from across the globe each year. The joint approach to promoting the visitor economy is another facet to the close working relationship between York and North Yorkshire with the prospect of greater spending powers and decision-making on a regional level through the proposed 30-year devolution deal. The proposed deal was announced on August 1 last year and is set to see benefits ranging from new and better-paid jobs and improved skills and training to more affordable housing. Devolved funds would exceed £750 million, with access to further funding in years to come. The proposed deal includes devolved funding for transport, education and business support, alongside a Mayoral Investment Fund. A mayor is set to be elected in May next year once the Government has approved plans to establish the combined authority to cover York and North Yorkshire.