Motor giant accelerates into York warehouse

Tess Egginton
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Motor giant accelerates into York warehouse

Motor giant, JCT600, has acquired a modern warehouse at Centurion Park on Clifton Moor in York.

JCT600, which has multiple dealerships, service, accident repair and van centres across Yorkshire, Humberside, Lincolnshire and the North East, purchased the 17,521 sq ft unit from leading parcel delivery company, DPD, for an undisclosed sum.

JCT600 is a well-known, family-run business with a 75-year pedigree. It is a trusted partner of 21 of the world’s best car brands, including Aston Martin, Porsche, Rolls Royce, Bentley, Ferrari and many more. The company will use the new site as a vehicle preparation centre.

Leeds property consultancy GV&Co advised DPD on the off-market transaction alongside sbh, and JCT600 was represented by Eaton Commercial.

Jonathan Jacob, senior surveyor from GV&Co, said: “Having let DPD their new state-of-the-art parcel facility on Northminster Business Park, we were delighted to have been retained to sell their building on Clifton Moor, which they had outgrown. Unit 1, Centurion Park provided a unique opportunity for JCT600 to acquire a modern, low site density building adjoining their existing ownership and we are pleased to have concluded the sale quickly.”

Robert Eaton, director at Eaton Commercial, added: “The opportunity for JCT600 to secure the freehold of further significant property in the heart of their dealership and support network at Clifton Moor, York, was not to be ignored, with the deal being rapidly concluded. JCT600 are now working up their plans for the business operation from the site.”

Three new faces prepare to step up at Yorkshire’s Chamber of Commerce

Stuart Pearcey
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Three new faces prepare to step up at Yorkshire’s Chamber of Commerce
West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce has three new ‘presidents-elect’ for Bradford, Leeds and York & North Yorkshire.  The business representatives will lead and campaign for their respective areas on behalf of the local Chamber membership. Mark Cowgill will represent Bradford; Sound Leisure’s Chris Black will cover Leeds; and Sarah Czarnecki of Gray’s Court Hotel takes on York & North Yorkshire.  Each has extensive knowledge and expertise in their own field, with years of experience of working with stakeholders and dealing with key decision-makers.  They will represent their members at high-level meetings and chair internal Chamber groups as part of the info-gathering and policy-making process in the business organisation. Amanda Beresford, Chair of the Board of West & North Yorkshire Chamber, said: “This is an exciting time for the Chamber and for the wider business community.  Yes, there are some tough decisions being taken in many businesses and life is a bit tricky for many, which is why it’s as important as ever that our politicians and other decision-makers are fully aware of relevant business issues. “We have another great team stepping up and an expert policy and representation team supporting and continuing our lobbying activities – and so I’m very confident for the future.” Mark said: “I’m looking forward to following on from some of our recent great business figureheads, and confident about taking Bradford forward.” Chris added: “Leeds is already a great location in which to do business but I’m sure that we continue the good work with other stakeholders to push on to another level.” Sarah said: “It’s a privilege for me to take on this key role right now.  We’ve a great support team helping the local business community, so we’re in good hands.”

Government plans to fund replacement of unsafe cladding on thousands of buildings

Stuart Pearcey
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Government plans to fund replacement of unsafe cladding on thousands of buildings
The government is to cover the cost of removing unsafe cladding in thousands of mid-rise buildings protecting leaseholders from costs where the responsible developer cannot be made to pay. Funds will come under the Cladding Safety Scheme, the government’s biggest building safety intervention to date, as part of a wider package of measures to help end the building safety crisis across England. It is estimated that thousands more mid-rise buildings will qualify, giving tens of thousands of residents across England a pathway to a safe home, with no cost whatsoever to leaseholders in the building. The CSS will be funded by both the £5.1 billion allocated by government to fix the most dangerous buildings and through revenue from the Building Safety Levy on new development. The scheme will be available to all medium-rise buildings between 11 and 18 metres across England and high-rise buildings over 18 metres outside of London where fire safety professionals have recommended that works must take place. The scheme will also be available to the social housing sector. All building owners who believe they are eligible for funding need to apply through Homes England Cladding Safety Scheme application portal. Any leaseholders or residents living in a building they think is eligible for funding will be able to provide further information about their building using Homes England’s ‘Tell Us tool’. Peter Denton, Chief Executive of Homes England, said: “The Cladding Safety Scheme pilot was an important step in removing the cost burden on leaseholders trapped in unsafe homes and built on the progress made on building safety. “The full rollout of the programme allows us to go even further. Our team is ready to go, and we expect thousands of buildings to benefit over the next decade.

“We will continue to work with DLUHC to ensure the pace we’re working at is maintained, so we can bring peace of mind and protection to the millions of people whose lives have been affected by unsafe cladding.”

Sheffield Forgemasters extends Harsco contract for five more years

Stuart Pearcey
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Sheffield Forgemasters extends Harsco contract for five more years
Sheffield Forgemasters has extended its 30-year relationship with Harsco Environmental by signing a five-year contract renewal. Under the contract Harsco will provide heavy material movements, including molten steel and ultra-large components, slag and scrap management and Melt Shop services. Harsco Environmental employs 19 staff on the 64-acre Brightside Lane site, supplying 30 vehicles including KAMAG heavy load transporters capable of carrying 320 tonnes and the class-leading Cometto self-levelling transporter, which moves molten steel around the site. Commercial Director Jeremy Makepeace said: “The work that Harsco Environmental undertakes is crucial to our operations and requires full understanding of the safety implications of each task. “Most of the work that Harsco undertakes is challenging, whether that’s moving materials in a hot-metal environment, transporting molten steel from the Melt Shop, or moving our largest castings and forgings around the site. “Throughout the tendering process Harsco demonstrated, in conjunction with an impeccable safety performance, a successful track record of such operations alongside meeting our value for money expectations.” Russ Mitchell, Vice President and COO of Harsco Environmental, said: “We are thrilled to extend our partnership. This contract renewal reinforces our unwavering commitment to delivering value and maintaining the highest safety standards.”

Finance Yorkshire pumps £1m into Yorkshire music company

Stuart Pearcey
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Finance Yorkshire pumps £1m into Yorkshire music company
Yorkshire-based family firm Music Factory Entertainment Group, renowned for its Jive Bunny brand, is poised for growth because of a £1 million investment from Finance Yorkshire. Finance Yorkshire’s investment from its growth fund has enabled the company to restructure, creating a group of associated businesses including Music Factory Recordings which will continue to distribute and optimise its catalogue worldwide. Jive Bunny had three consecutive UK number one singles, 13 world-wide number one singles and a triple platinum album. The group’s music is still regularly streamed across platforms including You Tube and Spotify. Andy Pickles is the son of the founder, and is now Executive Chairman. He said: “With Finance Yorkshire’s investment we can develop and grow our music catalogue in what is an exciting period for the music industry. The Jive Bunny brand is still going strong and we plan to optimise it across all platforms.” The company has recently relocated to Tileyard North in Wakefield, taking a 2,500 sq ft space as one of the first anchor tenants in the creative hub. Andy said: “We are very proud of what we have achieved by starting out in Rotherham and still being based in Yorkshire. For that reason, we were very attracted to work with Finance Yorkshire and its team.” As well as Music Factory Recordings, the company has launched Pure Music GO to provide gym and fitness operators with music services. It also runs North Star 360, a training and development programme for young people keen to pursue careers in the music industry. Next month, North Star 360 is hosting a five-day summer camp providing students with hands-on, practical experience, taught by industry professionals with a wealth of expertise. Alex McWhirter, chief executive of Finance Yorkshire, said: “Music Factory is a well-established and successful company which has stayed true to its Yorkshire roots. We are delighted to support the business in the next phase of its growth and its leading role in the region’s music and creative industries. It is particularly pleasing to see its investment in young people’s education through North Star 360.” The Group was founded more than 30 years ago in Rotherham by John Pickles, and nowboasts tens of millions of record sales, worldwide number one singles, and a catalogue of 15,000 sound recordings, publishing rights and brands.

Work resumes on new energy-efficient houses after contractor’s collapse

Tess Egginton
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Work resumes on new energy-efficient houses after contractor’s collapse
Construction work has re-started on Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council’s energy-efficient housing development at Billingsley View, Bolton upon Dearne. The work was due to be completed in April 2023, however, it was delayed when the original contractor went into administration. The council have been working over the last few months to appoint a replacement contractor to finish the project. Now, William Birch and Sons Limited has taken over. Work started again on Monday 24 July 2023, and is expected to complete in October 2023. The new homes will be let and managed by Berneslai Homes. The development of 16 houses will show how homes can be built to use less energy and be more sustainable for the environment. It is the pilot for the Barnsley Low Carbon Standard new build specification. The council’s project team has worked with Leeds Sustainability Institute, part of Leeds Beckett University, to design these highly energy-efficient properties. Once complete, ongoing monitoring will measure the success of the design specification and keep track of the cost savings for tenants. Each house will get its heating and hot water from an air-source heat pump. Each will also generate electricity from solar panels with battery storage so that energy from the sun can be stored and used when needed, plus electric vehicle charging points. Cllr Robert Frost, Cabinet Spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture, said: “The government requires us to deliver at least 900 additional homes a year, and we want to achieve this through sustainable, quality housing so you can live in the right house for you. “We know there is a demand for affordable housing in this area, and these high-quality new homes will directly contribute to the council’s ambitions for Growing Barnsley, Healthy Barnsley and Sustainable Barnsley through providing safe, warm and sustainable homes.”

£50m worth of investment in Rotherham to move a step closer

Tess Egginton
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£50m worth of investment in Rotherham to move a step closer

Around £50 million worth of investment in Rotherham will move a step closer when Rotherham Council’s Cabinet meets on Monday 7 August.

Cabinet members will be asked to approve the funds for improvements to Rother Valley Country and Thrybergh Country Parks, as well as Dinnington Town Centre. Nearly £11m will be committed to the scheme to improve Dinnington. The improvements will include improvements to the outdoor market and the creation of a new commercial square to enhance the retail, food and beverage offer in the town and improve public realm and connectivity. At the same time, Councillors will be asked to approve £8m funding for projects at Rother Valley Country Park and Thrybergh Country Park. At Rother Valley, £5.5m will be provided for a new waterfront café with both indoor and outdoor seating with a first-floor events space. Improvements to parking facilities and a relocated cycle hub will be complemented by a high-quality landscaping scheme including a new play area. A £2.5m scheme at Thrybergh Country Park will also see visitors benefiting from a new destination waterside café, alongside improved public realm, and visitor facilities. Both park projects are part of a £20m investment in leisure economy and skills in Rotherham. Other leisure attractions receiving improvements include Gullivers, Wentworth Woodhouse, Magna and Maltby Skills Academy. Meanwhile, Cabinet members are being asked to approve a contract tender and start of enabling works for Rotherham Town Centre’s Markets & Central Library development. If approved, the enabling works are expected to start in September, with the main development works expected to commence in 2024. Plans for the £30m markets and library development include a brand-new markets space, a new town centre library, a community space, and extensive public realm improvements. Rotherham Council’s Leader Councillor Chris Read said: “We remain determined to secure investment to improve the future of Rotherham and ensure that money delivers improvements for our residents. “These schemes cover locations right across our borough; improving our country parks and our urban centres, creating job opportunities and improving the local environment, so that even in these difficult times we can plan for better times ahead.” The news follows last month’s Cabinet commitment of around £9m to improve Wath Town Centre, which included creation of new library with inclusive community facility and commercial space, a better walkway between Biscay Way and the High Street, to encourage more visitors and improvements to nearby public spaces. Funding for the Dinnington & Wath and Leisure Economy & Skills schemes has been secured by Rotherham Council through the Government’s Levelling Up Capital Grant. The markets re-development is being funded by Rotherham Council, Future High Street Fund and South Yorkshire Mayor Combined Authority grant funding.

Lincoln property developer wins new contract in Nuneaton

Stuart Pearcey
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Lincoln property developer wins new contract in Nuneaton
Lincoln-based property developer and contractor Stirlin has won a new contract for Kedleston Group, working in partnership with valued client Cynergi for expansion and refurbishment work at the Arc School Ansley in Nuneaton. The school provides a safe learning environment for children and young people with educational, social and emotional needs associated with autism. The project will involve building two contemporary classrooms alongside external play areas, and comprehensive refurbishments to the existing building. Howard Griffith, Head of Construction at Stirlin said: “This project represents a significant milestone for Stirlin and highlights our capabilities to deliver excellence in a wide variety of sectors, which we aim to strengthen even further in the years to come. “Moreover, this milestone marks a momentous shift for us as we open our doors to external contracts, after years of exclusively serving private clients and joint venture partners. The move signifies our commitment to broadening horizons and exploring exciting new projects with external clients.” Kedleston Group CVEO Paul Brosnan said: “The need for high quality specialist education of the kind provided at Arc School Ansley continues to grow. We are delighted to be working alongside Stirlin on this exciting project which will allow us to both enhance the facilities at the school and offer much-needed additional places for young people with special educational needs.”

Funding support for SMEs in East Riding of Yorkshire

Tess Egginton
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0
Funding support for SMEs in East Riding of Yorkshire
Hull and East Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (HEY LEP), Investment Programme Team, is running an event for all businesses in the East Riding of Yorkshire to discover existing and new funding opportunities. The event is for all SMEs in the East Riding of Yorkshire and will provide information on both the Growing Places Fund, the Made Smarter Programme and additional Business Support available. There will be an opportunity to have one-to-one discussions with members of the Investment Programme Team, Business Support Advisors from ERYC, The Made Smarter Team, as well as a presentation by Leon McQuade from Think Cloud about AI in Business. The event will also be joined by Innovate UK Edge. The event will bring together a range of support and advisory services in one place, focused solely on SMEs in the region, where business owners can meet and explore funding ideas with experts, which could have a positive impact on their businesses. Previous similar events have also provided a good opportunity for networking with other businesses in the region. Leon McQuade from Think Cloud will be giving a presentation about the opportunities for businesses to learn how digital adoption in businesses could contribute to cost savings, increased productivity and economic growth, through the implementation of digital technology. This event will be an opportunity for SMEs across East Yorkshire to talk to a wide range of experts who can offer business support and talk about funding opportunities that exist. Alison Lacey, Investment Programme Officer at the HEY LEP, said: “This session is a great opportunity for local businesses to find out ways in which they can be supported, both through funding and a whole range of other opportunities. “We look forward to welcoming them and see them flourish as a result.” Date:             27th September 2023 Venue:          Wold View Farm, York Road, Driffield, YO25 3BG Time:             8am- 12noon If you would like to attend or have any queries about how the Growing Places Fund can help with a grant or loan, please contact: Alison Lacey on 07496 315038 or email: a.lacey@heylep.com, or Jacquie Newman on Jacquie.Newman@heylep.com or 07876 347286.   To book your ticket please click on this link: Are you an SME in East Yorkshire looking for capital investment Tickets, Wed 27 Sep 2023 at 08:00 | Eventbrite

Training firm fuelled by investment from private equity house

Tess Egginton
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Training firm fuelled by investment from private equity house
Leeds-based private equity house Key Capital Partners has completed a £6 million investment in Fuel Learning, a specialist in the provision of leadership and management training. The deal sees Key acquire a significant minority stake in the business. Headquartered in Measham, Fuel’s 80-strong team delivers tailored leadership and management development programmes to clients within multiple sectors, including transport, retail, logistics and construction. Since 2009 Fuel has provided commercial leadership development and in 2017 became a member of the UK’s Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (RoATP) to deliver apprenticeships through the UK Apprenticeship Levy scheme. The investment was led for Key by Philip Duquenoy and Sandeep Banga. Key were advised by Ward Hadaway (Legal), Evelyn Partners (Financial and Tax), PMSI (Market analysis), RPL (Commercial), GB3 (Technology), AON (Insurance), RSM (Regulatory) and Stratton HR (Management). Fuel’s shareholders were advised by KBS (Corporate Finance) and DWF (Legal). Partner, Philip Duquenoy said: “We are delighted to partner with Fuel. The team’s focus on quality of training and client satisfaction permeates throughout and is core to the business’s success.” The highly experienced management team, led by Ian Prentice (CEO), Pete Hames (FD), Sarah Appleton (client services director), Karen Priestley (leadership development director) and Kate Baker (director of levy programmes), will remain in the business and will be supported by incoming non-executive chair, Paul Venables, who was formerly the CFO of Hays plc. CEO, Ian Prentice says: “With their in-depth knowledge of the training sector, Key very quickly gained an understanding of our business model. They provide support at a very senior level, with highly experienced partners working closely with the business to help deliver our growth ambition.”
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