How to make your home more energy efficient

Tess Egginton
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How to make your home more energy efficient
Energy efficiency at home is a great way to save money, reduce CO2 emissions and help the environment. In the current economy and with the days and nights getting increasingly colder it is more important than ever that we try to make our homes as energy efficient as possible. Lincolnshire Radiators Direct have a large, hand-picked range of quality designer radiators with 15-year guarantees and free shipping. They’ve provided this helpful and informative blog to help you be more energy efficient.
  • Set your thermostat to around 18 degrees, this means whenever your house temperature drops below this your heating will kick in. This costs a lot less than if you keep turning your heating on and off and the system has to heat up from the start again.
  • Bleed your radiators, this will help your home to feel warmer and make your heating system more efficient as you’ve removed air pockets. As well as reducing the pressure in your system meaning you won’t have to turn your heating up as often.
  • Make sure your home is well insulated. This may mean an initial pay-out but with 35% of heat being lost through walls the investment will eventually pay for itself. Look into loft insulation, double glazing, cavity walls, and hot water tank jackets.
  • It can be hard in smaller or awkwardly designed rooms to not block radiators with bulky furniture that stops heat from spreading across the room but where possible avoid blocking radiators and heaters.
  • Instead focus on blocking drafts, buy draft excluders for your doors, or door curtains that keep the cool air out.
  • LED energy-saving light bulbs last longer and use less energy, saving you money on your energy bill and meaning you won’t have to add bulbs to your shopping list as often.
  • Draught-proofing your home can be a long process but thermal curtains are a great start, they help to block drafts and keep the heat in. Whilst it may be tempting to keep curtains open, keeping them shut when you’re out could help conserve heat in your home.
  • We’re not saying to rush out and buy all new kitchen appliances as if there is nothing wrong with your current appliances this would be wasteful. However, when it is time to buy a new fridge, washing machine or dishwasher opt for an energy-efficient one by keeping an eye out for the ‘energy saving recommended’ sticker.
  • If you’re not using a room, turn the lights off. This links well with turning off your TV and PC rather than leaving them on standby, this will reduce your electricity bill as well as avoid the emission of CO2.
  • Wait until you have a full load to put your dishwasher or washing machine on, this saves doing multiple washes that could have been done all at once.
  • Keep an eye on your weather app to see when there is a dry day to get your washing done, this could help you avoid using your tumble dryer more than necessary as whilst they’re very useful they’re also a big consumer of energy.
  • This seems small, but it all adds up. Don’t overfill your kettle, if you’re just making a drink for yourself, fill the kettle to the minimum line to avoid it boiling for longer than necessary.
  • Invest in a heated towel radiator, this way you can heat your bathroom whilst helping to dry damp towels between showers, avoiding the use of the tumble dryer or getting a fresh towel after one use and creating more washing.
  • If you’re not using a room, such as your spare bedroom, turn the radiator down in that room, keeping it on low to avoid dampness in the cold months. A great way of doing this is installing thermostatic radiator valves onto your radiators to control the flow of water into individual radiators which allows you to control the maximum temperature in each room.
  • Install solar panels: This is an expensive initial investment, but renewable energy is the cleanest form of energy and solar panels pay for themselves after around 10 years. If you plan to live in your home long-term they can be a fantastic investment.
Lincolnshire Radiators Direct hope these tips will help you be more energy efficient, reduce your carbon footprint and save you money. Whilst there is no set rule it is recommended to change your radiators every 15-20 years, old central heating systems and radiators are known to be less energy efficient. You can shop our range here, we stock column radiators, vertical radiators and so much more. For more information don’t hesitate to get in touch on 01522 620190.

Administrators of plant-based foods firm secure sale of manufacturing site

Tess Egginton
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Administrators of plant-based foods firm secure sale of manufacturing site
The administrators of Plant and Bean Limited (P&B) have sold the company’s manufacturing site and associated equipment to Vegan Solo Consulting Limited (Vegan Solo) and Duo Renovations Ltd (DRL). P&B is a dedicated alternative protein food manufacturer based in Boston, Lincolnshire, operating from a 125,000 sq ft factory and producing vegetarian products for large brand names with placements in major supermarkets. The company entered administration on 31 May 2023 when James Clark and Howard Smith at Interpath were appointed joint administrators. Vegan Solo specialises in the production of meat-free products and is run by Heather Mills, the entrepreneur and a leading champion for the vegan movement. This purchase will add to Miss Mills’ existing portfolio which includes Vbites – a pioneer of meat-free substitutes. Like several other businesses in the sector, P&B experienced significant inflation across its cost base, primarily increases in food and energy prices. The business also suffered from several operational issues stemming from a lack of investment. It is understood that following the sale there will be a period of renovations to upgrade the production capabilities, and that Miss Mills is determined to ensure that any future manufacturing that takes place at the site be plant-based. Heather Mills said: “I am delighted to acquire the P&B facilities and to keep it as a non-meat factory. I am also pleased to try and help the founder of P&B who has worked in a similar vein to myself for many decades to drive positive change for the environment, the animals and for the health of the global population.” James Clark, Managing Director at Interpath and a joint administrator of Plant and Bean Limited, said: “I am delighted to secure a sale of this great facility to someone committed to investing and improving on the great manufacturing capabilities implemented by Plant and Bean. The factory has huge scope to deliver improved economic output for the Boston area and we wish the buyer all the best in their new venture.”

Air IT swoops for Yorkshire firm

Tess Egginton
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0
Air IT swoops for Yorkshire firm
Air IT, the Managed Service Provider (MSP) with offices in Nottingham and Derby, has snapped up Yorkshire and London-based Vital Technology Group. Air IT and Vital combined employ almost 500 people and operate across eight regional UK offices, delivering a local personal service to over 2,300 clients. Lee Evans and Alex Dawson, Joint Managing Directors of Vital, said: “We’ve spent the last 15 years developing and growing Vital into a successful regional business with an enviable local reputation. “By joining Air IT, we’ll not only be able to offer additional technical expertise, skillsets and capabilities, whilst continuing to deliver the highest levels of service to our clients, but will continue our journey of growth, establishing Air IT as the IT partner of choice for SMEs in Yorkshire and the North East region.” James Steventon, CEO at Air IT, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Vital to Air IT. They’re a great addition to our team, sharing a similar approach, culture, and a commitment to delivering exceptional service to clients. “With a strong focus on Microsoft cloud solutions, we’re looking forward to combining our joint knowledge, skills and experience to deliver even greater results for our valued clients.”

Firms collaborate to create wildlife oasis

Stuart Pearcey
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Firms collaborate to create wildlife oasis
Businesses CPL Products, DFDS, and Associated British Ports are working to transform an unmanaged section of highway verge alongside West Haven Way, into a wildlife oasis at the Port of Immingham. With support and guidance from Humber Nature Partnership, a team of nine volunteers from the companies planted foxglove, mullein and purple loosestrife to complement the herbaceous species already present in the verge such as teasel and yellow rattle. Part of the transformation includes the creation of a 100 metre long green wall. Utilising an existing concrete boundary wall, volunteers have planted climbers such as honeysuckle, ivy and winter jasmine to prefixed sections of trellis and there are plans to put in place bird nesting boxes. In time the 1,000 square metre verge will transform into valuable habitat for a range of wildlife including: butterflies, birds and small mammals.  Along with habitat improvements for wildlife, once established the enhanced verge and green wall will also help to suppress dust in the form of particulates from the road. Simon Bird, Director Humber, said: “As part of our commitment to sustainability we actively look for areas we can make improvements to for all manner of flora and fauna. Working in partnership is key to our work, my thanks to CPL, DFDS and the Humber Nature Partnership for bringing this project to life.” Humber Nature Partnership Conservation Officer, Alan Jones, said: “The entire verge will now be managed as a wildlife haven and promises a year-round display. The team will be working on further development of the area across the year.”

Lincoln firm starts work on boathouse project in Nottinghamshire

Stuart Pearcey
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Lincoln firm starts work on boathouse project in Nottinghamshire
Lincoln-based Lindum Construction has started work on a new boat house and restaurant space at Kings Mill Reservoir near Sutton in Ashfield in Nottinghamshire. The project has begun with the creation of a new car park and will include the demolition of an old boat house to make way for a new two-storey structure providing modern, accessible changing and storage facilities for water sports on the ground floor, with a restaurant and function space on the first floor. The project is one of 17 in the district being funded by £62.6m of Towns Funding and will complement the expansion of the neighbouring The Mill Adventure Base. Lindum Construction Manager Mark Robertson said the entire project would take around a year to complete. “We are looking forward to getting started on this project, which will result in a superb leisure attraction for local people. The restaurant will be in a fantastic location with views of the water,” he said. “We have a strong pipeline of local subcontractors who will be working on this scheme with us so the council’s investment will continue to circulate within the economy. “It is good to be working with Ashfield District Council again. Lindum has a delivered several housing schemes for the authority over the past three years and we’ve developed a strong relationship, based on openness, trust and successful delivery of projects.” Cllr Matthew Relf, Executive Lead for Growth, Regeneration and Local Planning added: “This is another positive step for our plans to make Mill Waters one of the top tourist destinations in the East Midlands. “We want to hear from clubs or individuals, who are keen to get involved in developing and running water sports activities at the reservoir. Please get in touch with the team if you are interested.” Newark-based Influence Landscape Planning and Design is the landscape architect on the project. As part of the planning application, Influence provided visual appraisal and comprehensive landscape design to complement the new building. Kathryn Dunk, principal landscape architect at Influence, said: “Kings Mill Reservoir is a special place where nature and visitors flock. It’s a place for being close to nature, enjoying the surroundings and experiencing the myriad of water sports on offer. “I’m really pleased that progress is being made to create the new leisure building which will sit alongside the water sports facilities and provide a place to dine and relax. Naturally landscape plays a key part here and we have created designs that responds to the specific character of the reserve, with a naturalistic planting palette of grasses and wildflowers and native Downy Birch trees reaching across the site to the water’s edge.”

One-day event examines latest developments in cooling for machining

Stuart Pearcey
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One-day event examines latest developments in cooling for machining
The seventh annual cooling seminar run by Rotherham’s Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre will explore the state of the art in advanced coolant techniques for the most demanding machining applications. The one-day forum on September 21st brings together industrial users with researchers to discuss the opportunities and challenges of advanced cooling methods, and share the latest knowledge and innovation. There will be speakers from leading engineering companies and research institutions to the AMRC Knowledge Transfer Centre to discuss their work across a host of industries and applications. The Nuclear AMRC has led research into supercritical CO2 cooling over the past eight years, with a focus on combining CO2 with minimum quantity lubricant (MQL) techniques for optimum performance in the most challenging machining tasks. Recent projects include work with difficult-to-machine refractory metals such as tungsten for applications in the fusion power sector. These advanced cooling techniques can improve component surface integrity, cleanliness, reduce the cost of the components, reduce waste and cut the environmental impact of machining. But in applications where quality and performance are critical, dedicated R&D is needed to optimise CO2 and MQL delivery parameters and cutting conditions. To register, go to advancedcooling23.eventbrite.co.uk

Government prepares to out ‘rip-off’ road fuel price retailers

Stuart Pearcey
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Government prepares to out ‘rip-off’ road fuel price retailers
Government has taken action after finding some supermarkets after deciding that some fuel retailers treated drivers as cash cows, charging 6p more per litre for fuel from 2019 to 2022 – meaning £900m in extra costs across the UK in 2022 alone. In a win for consumers, drivers will be able to compare prices in real time in any area of the UK, through a new fuel price reporting scheme. Drivers will be able to easily identify those charging fair prices and those failing to pass on savings from falling wholesale costs. The government will change the law to force retailers to comply by providing up to date price information, which is expected to lead to greater transparency and competition – in turn driving down prices and easing people’s cost of living. The new scheme will make pricing data available for third parties – paving the way for them to create price comparison apps and websites – supporting the digital economy and helping growth. The tough action by government follows publication of a Competitions and Markets Authority report showing some supermarkets charged drivers 6p more per litre for fuel. This amounts to £900m in extra costs in 2022 alone – around £75m a month. New powers will be handed to a public organisation yet to be decided, to closely monitor the UK road fuel market, scrutinise prices and alert government if further intervention is needed. Energy Security Secretary Grant Schnapps said: “Some fuel retailers have been using motorists as cash cows – they jacked up their prices when fuel costs rocketed but failed to pass on savings now costs have fallen. “It cannot be right that at a time when families are struggling with rising living costs, retailers are prioritising their bottom line, putting upwards pressure on inflation and pocketing hundreds of millions of pounds at the expense of hardworking people.

Today I’m putting into action the CMA’s recommendations and standing by consumers – we’ll shine a light on rip-off retailers to drive down prices and make sure they’re held to account by putting into law new powers to increase transparency.”

West Yorkshire SMEs get advice on energy cost-cutting measures

Stuart Pearcey
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West Yorkshire SMEs get advice on energy cost-cutting measures
Businesses under financial pressures from inflation and the climate crisis are to benefit from new support being launched today by West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin. The Mayor’s Business Sustainability Support will help SMEs cut their energy use and combat the effects of climate change. The West Yorkshire Combined Authority will work with interested businesses to develop and implement new sustainability plans, aimed at slashing energy bills and boosting resilience against rising temperatures, supply chain issues and flooding. Following a free assessment of the firm’s environmental impact, these bespoke plans will recommend various workplace adaptations, such as lighting that is more energy efficient, measures that cut down on waste, or equipment that harnesses cheap, clean and renewable energy, including solar panels. Advice will then be offered on how to deliver the plan, secure public and private investment, and make sustainable changes to ensure annual energy bill savings long into the future. Mayor Tracy Brabin said the new support would be a gamechanger in the region’s fight to become a more resilient, Net Zero carbon economy by 2038. The £10m fund comes after the Mayor’s recent launch of the West Yorkshire Plan, which commits to building a greener, more vibrant West Yorkshire that works for all. She said: “As the cost of living and energy crisis continues, it’s vital we step up support for our hardest hit businesses, helping them keep down costs, protect jobs and stay afloat during this difficult time. “This new, £10m scheme will help us deliver a greener West Yorkshire by slashing the carbon footprint of our small and medium-sized businesses, while futureproofing them against the harmful effects of climate change. “As we transition to a net zero carbon economy by 2038, we’re determined to ensure that no business is left behind, as we work to make positive, greener changes that benefit all our communities across the region.”

The scheme will build on previous sustainability support through the Mayor’s Resource Efficient Business programme, which helped 360 West Yorkshire businesses save an average of £11,500 per year on their energy bills.

Lowe Engineering Limited, a Leeds-based power plant equipment supplier, was given a £5,000 grant last year, which was used to fit the warehouse and offices with modern LED lighting, helping to save the business up to £2,000 per year.

Operations Director Graeme Walker said: “Improving the lighting throughout our premises had been on our “to do” list for some time but, due to the large initial expenses and slow cost-saving recovery, it was always at the back of the queue when it came to annual building repairs and improvements.

“However, with the onset of higher energy prices coupled with the Mayor’s support, we were encouraged to install LED lighting throughout the building, and recovered our 50% of the expenses within a short period of time.

“It is safe to say that without the scheme in place, this improvement would still be on the “to do” list.”

Businesses are encouraged to find out more about the support on our Sustainability webpage.

Arco scoops Yorkshire Family Business of the Year Award

Stuart Pearcey
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Arco scoops Yorkshire Family Business of the Year Award
Safety specialist Arco has won the Yorkshire Family Business of the Year Award at the Family Business United Awards, in which it was up against more than 200 national businesses. The judges recognised the role which the Martin family plays through its stewardship and investment in the business. Whether that be through being active members in our communities through charitable work or lobbying for change in parliament against non-compliant PPE, their passion, expertise and support is invaluable. At a ceremony held in London, fifth-generation family member Charley Seward, who’s Supplier Relationships and Transformation Manager, Becky Casson, Buying Director, picked up the award on Arco’s behalf. Mr Seward said: “I was delighted to accept the award on behalf of the 1600 members of the Arco family who make this business tick. As colleagues, we know we have something very special at Arco, but it’s wonderful to have this validated by Family Business United too.” CEO Guy Bruce added: “It’s a privilege and honour to have our business recognised in this space and to be able to share in the celebrations with other family business of all sizes, generations and sectors who were also awarded on the night. “Congratulations to all colleagues on this achievement – you all play a part in making this business great.”

Survey shows major jobs boost for Yorkshire & the Humber manufacturers

Tess Egginton
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0
Survey shows major jobs boost for Yorkshire & the Humber manufacturers

A new report released today from Make UK, the manufacturers’ organisation, and accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP, shows that manufacturing remains vital to the success of the economy in Yorkshire & the Humber, with the sector accounting for more than 15% (15.4%) of the region’s output in 2022, substantially ahead of the national average of just under 10%. 

This is a significant increase on the share of output from 2021 (14.6%) and is reflected in a major boost for manufacturing jobs across the region with employment having jumped from 278,000 in 2021 to 316,000 in 2022.

This has been largely driven by the Food and Drink sector which accounts for almost a fifth of manufacturing output in the region (16.2%) and has benefitted significantly from the re-opening of hospitality during 2022. This is followed by the manufacture of chemicals (15.4%) and Metal Products, largely steel, at 13.9%.

The region is also a strong export performer with its share of exports going to the EU (worth £11billion) remaining at 57%, well above the UK average of 52%. This makes Yorkshire & the Humber the second most dependent English region on the EU market, but leaves the region more exposed to new trading arrangements with the bloc than other English regions and devolved nations.

The next largest destination is North America, accounting for 17% of goods exports, closely followed by Asia & Oceania which accounts for 12% of goods exports.

Dawn Huntrod, Make UK director for the North, said: “Industry remains critical to the growth of the Yorkshire & Humber economy, providing high value, high skill jobs and aiding the process of levelling up.

“To build on this position we need a national industrial strategy which encompasses local growth strategies which fit with the priorities and strengths of the region including infrastructure, innovation and skills in particular.”

Steve Talbot, head of manufacturing at BDO in Yorkshire, added: “The manufacturing jobs growth we have seen in the region across the last year is testament to the resilience of the sector as a whole.

“Manufacturing companies across Yorkshire & the Humber have had to overcome the multiple challenges thrown up by Brexit, shortages in skilled labour, pandemic-related supply chain delays and the huge energy price rises we have seen following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“While everyone is hoping for some respite, the headwinds show no sign of abating. With high inflation and interest rates continuing to rise, manufacturers will need to remain alert, responsive and resilient in the face of any future geopolitical or economic shocks.”

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