New raft of skills bootcamps aims to help up to 800 people
The York and North Yorkshire LEP is partnering with specialist providers and leading employers to deliver a programme of 30 Skills Bootcamps, supporting more than 800 individuals.
For learners, Skills Bootcamps are free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, giving those who take part the opportunity to build up specific skills and – if they are unemployed or seeking to change career – a fast-track to an interview with an employer looking to recruit new talent. The current raft of sessions, running until next spring, builds on a similar programme last year, involving 1,000 people.
This current programme of Skills Bootcamps offers a range of courses in areas such as cyber security, game design, programming, forestry, rail engineering and care, and reflects the diverse needs of our local economy.
Peter Emery, Chair of York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership Skills and Employability Board, said: “Skills Bootcamps offer a great way for learners to progress their careers and for employers to gain additional expertise. This latest menu of courses offers an exciting range of opportunities and can be tailored to a company’s actual needs thus making them a very attractive option to many SMEs and micro-businesses.”
Partners delivering Skills Bootcamps in collaboration with Y&NY LEP include Learning Curve Group, City of York Council, Calderdale College, Coders Guild, Corecom Technology Academy, Northern Regeneration CIC, Wakefield College, Hybrid Technical Services, Luminate Education Group and Craven College.
Last year Third-based steel construction company Severfield put five employees onto a metal fabrication Skills Bootcamp led by Derwent Training, in Malton.
Luke Malton, a steel fabricator and one of the Severfield employees who took part, said: “I really enjoyed this course. The tasks that we completed over the 12 weeks were very hands on, so it felt like we were thrown in at the deep end at first, but that’s exactly what was needed to make sure we got the most out of the time. I already feel like I have a broader skill set that I can continue to build on during my time here and that will allow me to work on a wider range of jobs.
“Some people might be put off by the idea of taking part in something like this, because it feels like you’re going back into education. But because we were able to complete the training sessions during work hours, it felt a lot more like professional development than teaching.”
To find out more about Skills Bootcamps, please email: emilie.bjorndal@ynylep.com
HEYLEP to support Hull businesses with Export Growth Grant funding programme
Hull City Council have announced the successful awarding to the Hull and East Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (HEYLEP) of UK Shared Prosperity Funds (UKSPF) to support local Hull based businesses with its Export Growth Grant (EGG) project.
The Programme aims to provide revenue grants to Hull-based exporters to support business growth through exporting to new markets.
Grants to a maximum of £5,400 are available to SMEs trading in a Hull Postcode (HU1 – HU9).
Companies applying will be expected to evidence the availability of 40% match funds of their overall project cost.
The overall objective of the EGG Programme is to assist businesses looking to participate at UK, European and International Trade Shows, thus enabling them to enter new markets following their exhibition stand at the Show.
Applications are now open – please contact funding@heylep.com for more details.
Bradford banking group acquires money-saving app
Bradford-headquartered Vanquis Banking Group has acquired money-saving fintech uSnoop Limited (Snoop).
Snoop provides its customers with personalised insights to help them better understand and manage their finances. The Snoop app uses AI and open banking data to help people save on household bills and targets savings of up to £1,500 per year for customers.
Snoop also helps businesses understand emerging consumer spending trends by analysing customer spending habits and transactions on its platform, enabling businesses to be better informed about their customers.
The acquisition will provide Snoop with significant scale, allowing access to Vanquis Banking Group’s 1.7 million customers who will benefit from the app, as well as with capital to grow the Snoop proposition.
This acquisition marks an important step for Vanquis as a specialist bank, bringing a money management and saving app into its customer proposition.
Ian McLaughlin, incoming Chief Executive Officer, Vanquis Banking Group, said: “Vanquis Banking Group is uniquely positioned to become the leading lender to underserved consumers.
“Snoop’s technology will enable the Group to provide a differentiated proposition to its customers with tools enabling them to manage their finances better and save them money.
“I am delighted Snoop is becoming part of our Group and am confident that the combination of our customers and scale, with Snoop’s market leading technology, will allow us to go from strength to strength.”
John Natalizia, Chief Executive Officer, Snoop, said: “Snoop’s ambition is to make everyone better off, and we believe that personalisation is the most powerful way to empower people to take control of their finances and make a real difference to their spending habits.
“Our cutting-edge technology, which leverages Open Banking, allows us to do just that. Today’s announcement strengthens our purpose, and Vanquis Banking Group is the perfect partner to help the business grow.”
Coatings firm secures funds for expansion
A third-generation family business that provides specialist paints and coatings to industry has secured £200,000 from NPIF – Mercia Debt Finance, which is managed by Mercia and is part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, to step up its nationwide expansion.
New Guard Coatings, which is based in Wetherby and had an existing warehouse in Leicester, has expanded nationally in recent years with the addition of sites in Glasgow, Hull, Warrington and Crawley. The funding will enable it to roll out trade counters or collection points at all the existing locations and create four new jobs in Wetherby and Hull.
The company, which currently employs 38 staff, also plans to increase exports to the US via its existing office in Houston.
New Guard was established in 1977 by father and son team Alan and Paul Cooper and since 2014 has been run by Paul’s son, Ben Cooper. It is the second loan from NPIF – Mercia Debt Finance. A previous loan received in 2019 has helped to support its expansion to date.
Ben Cooper, Managing Director, said: “At New Guard, we pride ourselves on our ability to offer top brands and rapid local service while maintaining our family business ethos.
“We set out our national expansion strategy seven years ago and, with the support of NPIF and Mercia, have already achieved most of our original goals. This latest funding will help us to complete our national network with the launch of a South West office and strengthen our footprint in the existing regions.”
Andy Clough of Mercia added: “New Guard is an example of a third-generation family business that is continuing to grow and has expanded well beyond its Yorkshire heartland. Thanks to its extensive stock levels and rapid service, it has become the ‘go to’ supplier for commercial coatings. This latest funding will enable it to firmly establish its position as a national operator.”
West Yorkshire towns join forces to maximise region benefits from tourism sector
Towns and cities across West Yorkshire have joined forces to form a Local Visitor Economy Partnership to maximise the potential of the region’s visitor economy.
It will involve councils in Leeds, Calderdale, Kirklees, Bradford and Wakefield alongside West Yorkshire Combined Authority. An interim board has been appointed which includes key tourism partners across West Yorkshire who will help shape the future or tourism for the region.
VisitEngland Director Andrew Stokes said: “Local Visitor Economy Partnerships are at the heart of transforming the visitor economy landscape in England and we are delighted to welcome West Yorkshire onto the programme.
“We look forward to continuing our close collaboration with West Yorkshire as the LVEP is established, providing ongoing support including a dedicated VisitEngland regional development lead.
“Having the right national and local infrastructure in place to grow our visitor economy, in an inclusive, accessible and sustainable way, will ensure England continues to be a compelling destination for both domestic and international visitors.”
Currently, each of the five West Yorkshire districts manage tourism activity for the region’s 65 million annual visitors individually.
The new LVEP programme, developed and administered by VisitEngland, will see districts come together, sharing ideas and resources while they collaborate on ways to grow the visitor economy, attract more visitors and inward investment and create job opportunities across West Yorkshire.
The West Yorkshire LVEP will also be able to access expert advice, dedicated toolkits and training programmes as well as getting support for applications for important national funding.
West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said: “Through this new partnership, we can drive forward West Yorkshire’s tourism offer and give the sector the vital support it needs. Combining our strengths to build a stronger, brighter West Yorkshire, we’re ready to show the world why it’s the place to be.”
Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s executive member for economy, culture and education, said: “We are delighted to have secured LVEP status and excited that we will now be working more closely with our neighbours so that together, we can showcase the very best West Yorkshire has to offer.
“Our region is a completely unique, vibrant and beautiful place which deserves an international spotlight. By working more collaboratively and sharing ideas, we can support each other in highlighting what makes our districts so remarkable individually whilst also collectively showing just how special West Yorkshire is as a region.”
Significant progress made on Sleaford industrial park
Work by Smith Construction to build plots one and three on a new industrial park in Sleaford is going well, with significant interest in the properties.
The units in these plots in the Sleaford Moor Enterprise Park are on track for expected completion in the coming weeks, ready for handover to the first businesses which will call the enterprise park home.
Contractor Smith Construction in Heckington is building the phase one units along with the civils and spine road, while Harlaxton Engineering in Grantham is delivering site-wide utilities connections.
Members of the North Kesteven District Council project board and officers met onsite with representatives from Smith Construction and biT Group in late June to see the progress.
North Kesteven District Council Leader Councillor Richard Wright said: “Our flagship Sleaford Moor Enterprise Park is taking great shape and I’m so pleased that the boost it will bring for our local economy is already being reflected in enquiries, with all of the units in plot three under offer and positive conversations with interested parties for units within plot one.
“The units look incredibly smart and some of the features to help save energy in use, such as skylights, can already be seen. I look forward to sharing more news soon on the build progress and of course the first occupiers to take up home at Sleaford Moor Enterprise Park, demonstrating that North Kesteven is the place to be.”
Eddisons inc. Banks Long & Co Director William Wall said: “Marketing of the phase one units is going very well as occupiers have been attracted by the high-quality build and green credentials. We look forward to announcing the first round of occupiers shortly.”
Sleaford Moor Enterprise Park is close to Pride Parkway in the town and visible from the roadside along the A17.
Carbon capture in the Humber gets green light from Government alongside new oil and gas licences
Government will today grant hundreds of new oil and gas licences as the UK Government continues to work towards making Britain more energy independent.
And the announcement includes the prospect of thousands of jobs in our region in what’s described as a ‘new industry’ – carbon capture.
Project Viking in the Humber and Project Acorn in North East Scotland and have been chosen as the third and fourth carbon capture usage and storage clusters in the UK.
The Government has already committed to deploy CCUS in two industrial clusters by the mid-2020s – the HyNet cluster in North West England and North Wales, and the East Coast Cluster in the Teesside and Humber – and a further two clusters by 2030.
Together, these four clusters will build a new thriving carbon capture usage and storage industry, which could support up to 50,000 jobs in the UK by 2030.
The UK has one of the largest potential carbon dioxide storage capacities in Europe, making the North Sea one of the most attractive business environments for CCUS technology. The Government has committed to provide up to £20 billion in funding for early deployment of CCUS, unlocking private investment and job creation.
The Government and the North Sea Transition Authority are today announcing a joint commitment to undertake future licensing rounds, which will continue to be subject to a climate compatibility test.
By adopting a more flexible application process, licences could also be offered near to currently licensed areas – unlocking vital reserves which can be brought online faster due to existing infrastructure and previous relevant assessments.
With the independent Climate Change Committee predicting around a quarter of the UK’s energy demand will still be met by oil and gas when the UK reaches net zero in 2050, the Government is taking steps to slow the rapid decline in domestic production of oil and gas, which will secure our domestic energy supply and reduce reliance on hostile states.
This will increase the UK’s energy security and reduce dependence on higher-emission imports, whilst protecting more than 200,000 jobs in a vital industry as we grow the UK economy. As part of a visit to a critical energy infrastructure site in Aberdeenshire today, the Prime Minister will highlight the central role the region will play in strengthening the UK’s energy independence and meet the next generation of skilled apprentices key to driving this work forward.
The NSTA – responsible for regulating the oil, gas and carbon storage industries – is currently running the 33rd offshore oil and gas licensing round. They expect the first of the new licences to be awarded in the autumn, with the round expected to award over 100 licences in total.
Future licences will be critical to providing energy security options, unlocking carbon capture usage and storage and hydrogen opportunities – building truly integrated offshore energy hubs that make the best use of the established infrastructure.
This comes as new analysis shows that the carbon footprint of domestic gas production is around a quarter of the carbon footprint of imported liquified natural gas. As the UK is a rapidly declining producer of oil and gas, new oil and gas licences reduce the fall in UK supply in order to ensure vital energy security, rather than increase it above current levels – so that the UK remains on track to meet net zero by 2050.
Rishi Sunak said: “We have all witnessed how Putin has manipulated and weaponised energy – disrupting supply and stalling growth in countries around the world.
“Now more than ever, it’s vital that we bolster our energy security and capitalise on that independence to deliver more affordable, clean energy to British homes and businesses.
“Even when we’ve reached net zero in 2050, a quarter of our energy needs will come from oil and gas. But there are those who would rather that it come from hostile states than from the supplies we have here at home.
“We’re choosing to power up Britain from Britain and invest in crucial industries such as carbon capture and storage, rather than depend on more carbon intensive gas imports from overseas – which will support thousands of skilled jobs, unlock further opportunities for green technologies and grow the economy.”
The UK’s oil and gas industry are also vital to driving forward and investing in clean technologies that we need to realise our net zero target, like carbon capture usage and storage, by drawing from the sector’s existing supply chains, expertise and key skills whilst protecting jobs.
British Steel gets BSI approval to sustainability standard
British Steel’s commitment to sustainable practices has been recognised by the British Standards Institution with approval to the BES 6001 Responsible Sourcing standard.
The award comes after three days of auditing, and is said by the company to be a significant achievement.
Simon Walker, Senior Environment Specialist, said: “This standard is much more than a piece of paper – it’s integral to all our futures. The recertification is independent verification that we have effective systems in place to ensure responsible sourcing and is an important achievement for our business.”
The BES 6001 certificate covers all steel products made in Scunthorpe, Teesside and Skinningrove. The audit was both demanding and comprehensive, investigating a wide range of areas including material traceability and environmental management systems in our supply chain as well as our greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, waste prevention and waste management.
Simon said: “Sustainable practices remain hugely important to us, our customers and stakeholders. They enable us to improve our social and environmental performance, meet regulatory requirements and meet our customers’ expectations.
“Allowing customers to demonstrate they’re sourcing products from a responsible supplier and being able to benchmark our performance is particularly important, so it’s excellent news that we’ve maintained our score as a ‘good’ rating in this year’s audit.”
Chris Vaughan, Director for Safety, Health, Environment and Quality, added: “Retaining this standard takes a lot of hard work from many people within British Steel and requires strong coordination. Thank you to all those who have contributed to maintaining this important certification for the business.”
Short run printing and booklets for changing customer needs
Lincoln Print & Copy Centre has continued investing in new equipment and recently bought new booklet making equipment to be able to offer folded and stapled booklets and brochures with many more pages.
This has been used straight away for a customer needing booklets with many pages, as low a cost each as possible and a quick turnaround. They were able to offer exactly what the customer needed.
It is particularly useful for short runs on brochures, catalogues, instruction manuals, information and training booklets. It allows clients to change the details and information regularly.
Other new equipment meant a supplier to the NHS could have wire bound training manuals of 300 A5 pages or more, again in short runs to suit the numbers on their training courses. They are also able to produce small A6 booklets, landscape and square brochures.
Particularly popular at this time of year are leaflets and posters advertising upcoming events and brochures for commercial companies going to trade shows.
Lincoln Print & Copy Centre work with their customers to ensure the printing fits their needs and budget, and keeping their printed information up to date.
Axiologik bolsters leadership team with hat-trick of hires
Leeds-headquartered digital transformation specialist Axiologik has made a trio of senior hires as the business pursues further growth.
Finance director Ross MacGregor is the first addition to the leadership team. While new to the tech sector, he joins Axiologik with almost a decade of experience in CFO and FD roles within fast-growth businesses across Yorkshire. A Yorkshire Finance Leaders award winner, his background spans supply chain, retail, construction, and manufacturing industries, to name a few, with his most recent role being to support an ambitious start-up in Australia.
Newly-appointed head of people Sarah Bright is another critical hire, as Axiologik’s total headcount now tops 110 colleagues nationwide. Sarah’s impressive CV spans almost 25 years in a variety of HR roles — including a 13 year stretch at renowned brand, Hallmark. More familiar with the tech sector in recent years, this piqued her interest when this fresh position became available at Axiologik.
Commercial director Rob Smith completes the line-up. A Yorkshireman who has lived in London for 30 years, his background spans a range of senior positions. His maths degree took him into technical roles, first into a systems developer role for Kodak, and later to European Engineering Director for Sila Communications — a Reuters’ company.
Since then, his career has seen him become increasingly commercial, including MD of the pioneering agile consultancy IndigoBlue, which he led from inception through growth and subsequent sale. He has remained immersed in the strategic technology space, and has now returned to work alongside familiar and highly-respected faces at Axiologik.
Commenting on joining the team, Rob said: “Axiologik’s reputation for delivering significant transformational change projects, is now well established — particularly in the North. As our capabilities continue to improve with growth in the team, this is the perfect time to position the business as a strategic change enabler, nationally, whether we’re helping a private or public sector client create impact, build resilience, or drive value.”
Sarah added: “This is a fantastic time to join our business. Axiologik has quickly earned its stripes as a disruptive founder-led brand that is really starting to be recognised across a range of industries.
“With an ambitious growth trajectory — and passionate about the employee experience — the board has empowered me to quickly evaluate our people strategies, ask questions, gain insights, identify opportunities, and lead on the delivery of our future plan — a fulfilling challenge where I know I can add value to colleagues and associates.”
Ben Davison, Axiolgik’s director, concluded: “Welcoming Ross, Sarah and Rob to the team, is a signal of the calibre of people within our business and continued growth. We are being increasingly invited to partner with some of the country’s most well-known organisations as they embark upon mission critical projects, and with such an exciting growth trajectory, the strength in our leadership team is key.”
