Executive search company promotes principal to divisional manager

Tess Egginton
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Executive search company promotes principal to divisional manager

Leeds-based international executive search agency Spencer Riley has promoted Adam Dowson to divisional manager as it continues to invest in its team and expand its specialist cold chain and life science logistics division.

Adam joined Spencer Riley in 2017 as a trainee and has progressed through the ranks to executive, senior executive search consultant and then principal search consultant before his latest promotion to divisional manager.

Adam has established himself as an experienced global consultant in the highly regulated cold chain and life science logistics sector. Spencer Riley continues to invest and grow this and other specialist teams.

His clients comprise market-leading couriers, temperature-controlled packaging solutions innovators and major integrators providing complete supply chain solutions across Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America.

Adam Dowson said: “It is great to have my role at Spencer Riley recognised with this latest promotion. My ambition now is to build my team further and to expand into niche areas within the life science logistics and packaging sectors.”

Managing Director Scott Ellam said: “Congratulations to Adam on his latest well-deserved promotion which recognises his drive and commitment as well as his consistently exceptional performance on behalf of clients and candidates.

“Adam has been with me from near the beginning and is a key member of our team.  Adam’s skill set and experience is invaluable to Spencer Riley as we continue our journey. We’ve had a great 12 months in terms of growth, and I look forward to supporting Adam as he builds his team and expands his portfolio offering.

“Adam’s clients, candidates and colleagues will know how much their successes matter to him and his character is reflected in the relationships he builds both within the company and with our partners. I look forward to seeing him developing the future generations of trainees as we increase hiring through 2023.”

Prime Leeds city centre retail building changes hands in £2.5m deal

Tess Egginton
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Prime Leeds city centre retail building changes hands in £2.5m deal
A prime retail building in the heart of Leeds city centre’s main pedestrianised area, on the corner of Commercial Street and Trinity Street, has changed hands in a £2.5 million deal. The 6,500 sq ft building, which is spread across five storeys, has been sold by a major UK Fund Manager which was advised by Leeds property consultancy, GV&Co’s investment division. The property has been acquired by a private investor and is let to Japanese and Asian-inspired restaurant and take-away chain, itsu. The purchase reflects a net initial yield of 3.38% rising to 6.77% in July 2023 following a fixed uplift in the rent. Garry Howes, director of investment at GV&Co, said: “This is a landmark building on one of Leeds city centre’s busiest streets as well as being next to the northern entrance of Trinity Leeds, meaning thousands of people walk past it every day. “It also benefits from a very popular tenant in itsu, a long lease until 2032, and a fixed uplift in the rental income. This made it a sought-after investment opportunity with a number of UK fund managers and private companies all expressing an interest.”

Second phase of Bradford student development launches

Tess Egginton
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Second phase of Bradford student development launches
Integritas Property Group (IPG), an ethical property developer based in the North West, has launched its second phase of the ‘Bijou’ project. Following the completion of the first phase, ‘Optima’ has been designed to capitalise on its location in the heart of Bradford city centre.
Designed for student accommodation, Optima will host a total of 54 student pods and 4 accessible studios.
Speaking on its investment in Bradford city centre, Integritas Property Group founder and Managing Director Mitchell Walsh said: “Bradford is the tenth largest city economy in England, worth an estimated £11.6 billion, so it’s a great area to concentrate on regenerating. It’s a well-connected city with direct rail access to London and has been awarded the UK City of Culture for 2025. 
“Over the coming few years, the city will see a whole host of redevelopment with the local authority planning to improve large areas of the centre, following a £20 million grant from the UK Levelling Up fund. The rental yield in Bradford also sits at 6%, which is 2.4% higher than the national average, making it a great time to invest in the area.”
Construction of the new Optima site will start in June 2023, with the expected first completion in June 2024.

How green is your property? Conveyancers told of duty to advise on climate legal risks

Stuart Pearcey
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How green is your property? Conveyancers told of duty to advise on climate legal risks
Conveyancing solicitors have been warned by the Law Society of England and Wales that they have an overall duty to advise on climate legal risks when acting in transactions. They must now consider whether climate searches are required for every property transaction they oversee, with the caveat that they ‘should not advise on climate change physical risks where it is outside their knowledge or qualification’. The new guidance reflects the 2008 Climate Change Act, which commits the UK to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 68% by 2030 and 78% by 2035. Chris Watson of X-Press Legal Services Lincolnshire said: “The Climate Change Act is already having a significant impact on the construction and housing sectors so to see it now filtering into property transactions is of little surprise. “For the home buyer this guidance means many solicitors will now feel duty bound to recommend a climate change report as part of the suite of property related searches undertaken during the conveyancing process. “Climate risks can be physical, transition, or liability related, and can negatively impact the value of land and buildings. In view of that, these searches will provide home buyers with an extra level of insight into their purchase and any climate related risks.”

Leeds-based civil engineering consultancy opens premises in the north west

Stuart Pearcey
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Leeds-based civil engineering consultancy opens premises in the north west
Leeds structural and civil engineering consultancy Dudleys has opened a new office in Prestwich in the wake of a ten percent increase in turnover to £1.82m for 2022 and a further projected 10% year-on-year growth for the next three years to achieve £2.66m by the end of 2025. A more permanent presence in the north west has been spearheaded by client activity, including Voyage Care with new-build projects in Burnley, Ellesmere Port, and Liverpool, and Home Bargains with developments in Leigh and Great Harwood. Dudleys is also appointed to assist in the delivery of the latest phase of development at Logistics North, a strategic employment site near Bolton, with further projects including Runcorn Services and new trade units on Carl Fogarty Way in Blackburn. Dudleys, which counts Leeds United, Leeds/Bradford Airport and Bettys & Taylors of Harrogate as long-standing clients, has doubled the size of its Leeds office space in the last twelve months with board director Paul Brownlow now heading up the new office in Prestwich. MD Andy Walker said: “Whilst we have served clients in the region for some years, our expanding portfolio now requires a more locally-based team.  We are optimistic about future business growth in the region and look forward to making our presence more widely known across the industry.” Dudleys provides structural and civil engineering advice across the UK. Established more than 12 years ago, the privately-owned consultancy employs a team of 25 highly skilled engineers. It operates in all key real estate sectors including residential, industrial, commercial, retail and education.

Outdoor advertising operator expands into Scotland

Tess Egginton
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Outdoor advertising operator expands into Scotland

Outdoor advertising operator 75Media has moved into Scotland with the acquisition of 122 new billboard sites, including Scotland’s largest roadside advertising structure, the M8 Tower in Glasgow.

The Leeds-based company’s expansion into Scottish territory comes as part of its long-term partnership with Wildstone, the provider of outdoor media infrastructure. As well as Glasgow’s iconic M8 Tower, 75Media will now operate the Edinburgh Airport Tower which, combined with the M8 Tower, will offer brands almost 2.5 million impacts a fortnight in Scotland’s busiest roadside locations. A further 70 classic 48 sheets, 43 digital 48 sheets and six digital 96 sheets will also launch 75Media’s Scotland billboard portfolio across Glasgow and Edinburgh conurbations. The acquisitions are expected to generate revenue of approximately £5 million for the operator. Speaking about the Scottish expansion, 75Media’s Managing Director, Paul Inman, said: “This is a pivotal milestone in our growth strategy and will be instrumental in us realising our goal of becoming the number one billboard advertising network for brands in the UK. “This new Scottish network will enable us to become a dominant player in the Scottish out-of-home (OOH) market, with more sites still to come.” Founder and CEO of Wildstone, Damian Cox, added: “We are delighted to have extended our framework agreement with Paul and his team through this Scottish expansion. 75Media represents a platform of exceptional media assets which we are excited to help grow rapidly. Their sales strategy is extremely interesting and shows how driven businesses can exceed revenue expectations without always relying on the mainstream agency model. “We believe that DOOH is still very much in its infancy in the UK. Both broadcast and the premium side of the market will see significant growth and innovation within the next five years and we at Wildstone are excited to be spearheading that with our tenant base.” Paul continued: “It is an incredibly exciting time for us as a company and also a great honour to be taking on these prestigious sites, and we look forward to working with agencies and brands of all sizes across Scotland to help tell their stories, out-of-home.”

Trio of fine knitwear companies sold out of administration

Tess Egginton
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Trio of fine knitwear companies sold out of administration
Interpath Advisory has secured the future of three fine knitwear businesses based in Yeadon, near Leeds. Jack Brodie Limited is a retailer of cashmere clothing and accessories primarily to high-end retail customers based in the UK and USA, but also sells directly to consumers via its website. The Edinburgh Knitwear Company Limited is a retailer of pima cotton and cashmere products, while Pennine (London) Limited is a retailer of cashmere clothing and accessories. The three companies are connected by virtue of common directors and shareholders.  The companies had seen significant revenue growth in recent years, prompting management to invest in stock to meet demand, as well as investing in their direct-to-consumer channels including their websites. However, more recently, the companies began to experience significant pressure on working capital and, after assessing all their options, Rick Harrison and Howard Smith were appointed joint administrators to the entities on 19 April 2023.  Immediately following their appointment, Interpath Advisory concluded a sale of the business and certain assets of Jack Brodie Limited and The Edinburgh Knitwear Company Ltd to Jamm Logistics Limited. In a separate transaction, Interpath Advisory concluded a sale of the business and certain assets of Pennine (London) Ltd. to Belgium-based Amitex NV.  As part of the two transactions, all of the companies’ 38 employees will transfer to Jamm Logistics Limited and Amitex NV. Rick Harrison, Managing Director at Interpath Advisory, said: “We’re pleased to have concluded these two transactions which will enable these long-established fine knitwear businesses to trade.” Howard Smith, Managing Director at Interpath Advisory, added: “We’re particularly pleased to have been able to safeguard the jobs of all employees and wish them, and the respective management teams, all the best for the future.”

Colenso marks business growth with new shareholder appointment

Tess Egginton
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Colenso marks business growth with new shareholder appointment
Colenso Property, the York-based commercial property and asset management specialist, has welcomed Lucy Glasby as a shareholder and partner in the business following a period of significant growth for the company. Lucy first joined Colenso in 2018, and is now the business’s head of Facilities Management, overseeing its health and safety compliance, and the management of a range of hard and soft services, including mechanical and electrical maintenance, fire safety systems, cleaning, and security, throughout its extensive portfolio. Colenso, which manages a wide range of commercial properties across the UK for a variety of private clients, is expecting a 30% growth in net profit this year, following the business having expanded its service offering, recruited additional team members, invested in cloud-based software and streamlined business processes. In recent years, Colenso has also invested heavily into its sustainability offering, having project managed the installation of a number of Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points, along with solar panel installations for a range of private landlords, ahead of the upcoming changes to Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) up to 2030. Lucy Glasby, head of Facilities Management at Colenso Property, said: “Having been part of the Colenso team for a number of years, the decision to invest within the business was an easy one, particularly given the exciting period of growth we are experiencing and expecting. “I’m particularly excited to be working to expand our sustainability offering, working with our clients to improve their green credentials and significantly reduce energy bills in the long-term.” Charles Harrison, head of Estates at Colenso Property, said: “Having taken the time to invest within the business during the pandemic, we have now been rewarded with a significant boost to our profitability. In light of this, we’re delighted to welcome Lucy to the board. “She has been an integral part of Colenso’s success to date, particularly in allowing us to expand our offering during recent years to provide service charge consultancy and management across our multi-tenanted commercial properties. “As a dedicated and talented member of the team, we couldn’t think of a better person to join the board, and we’re sure that she will play a crucial role during this next stage of our business journey.”Alexia Swift-Cookson, head of Asset Management at The Helmsley Group, whose portfolio of over 90 properties is managed by Colenso, added: “Having worked closely with Colenso for many years, we want to congratulate them on this latest appointment to the board. “As a business, Colenso shares our enthusiasm for York and its property sector, and has always provided a fantastic service across our £200m portfolio. We want to congratulate the whole team on its recent, well-deserved success.”

The Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology reveals calendar of courses for 2023

Tess Egginton
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The Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology reveals calendar of courses for 2023
The Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology, University of Greenwich offers a wide range of short courses designed specifically for engineers involved in the handling and/or designing of equipment for bulk solid materials. Course content, offered as a mixture of online learning and face to face training, is continually developed to reflect the changes occurring in industry and the needs of the engineer. Many now offer a practical workshop in the on-site laboratories to complement the theoretical presentations and real-life case studies used.

The calendar of courses for 2023 includes:

9 – 10 May: Caking and Lump Formation of Powders and Bulk Solids; Concentration on issues relating to keeping powders and granules in a free-flowing, lump-free condition 16 – 18 May: Pneumatic Conveying of Bulk Materials; Identification of components of pneumatic conveying systems, system selection and design techniques 14 June: Dust Control for Processes; Identification and risk assessment within processing systems; studying dust prevention, capture and extraction methods 28 – 29 June: Pneumatic Conveying System Design; An in-depth exploration of detailed calculations for design of pneumatic pipelines and specifying plant (Advanced course) 11 – 15 September: Powder Handling and Flow for Additive Manufacturing;  A guide through the critical aspects of powder management for powder-based AM processing 19 – 20 September: Commissioning and Troubleshooting ‘Hands-on’ Pneumatic Conveying Systems; A look at the practical challenges of starting up systems on site and making sure they work as the designer intended 17 – 19 October: Overview of Particulate Handling Technology; An introduction to the storing and handling of bulk materials, equipment selection and design methodologies for safe and reliable plant 7 – 9 November: Pneumatic Conveying of Bulk Materials; Identification of components of pneumatic conveying systems, system selection and design techniques 29 – 30 November: Pneumatic Conveying System Design; An in-depth exploration of detailed calculations for design of pneumatic pipelines and specifying plant (Advanced course) 5 & 6 December: Electrostatics in Powder Handling; the cause and effect of electrostatic charging in bulk solids handling

If the course you are interested in is not shown, an In-Company course is possible.

For more information call 020 8331 8646, or contact wolfson-enquiries@gre.ac.uk

Card Factory acquires South African firm for £2.5m

Tess Egginton
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Card Factory acquires South African firm for £2.5m
Card Factory, the Wakefield-headquartered retailer of greeting cards, gifts and celebration essentials, has acquired SA Greetings Corporation (Pty) Ltd and its subsidiaries, which trade as SA Greetings, for £2.5m. SA Greetings is a wholesaler of greeting cards and gift packaging in South Africa. It also operates 24 ‘Cardies’ retail stores, with four further stores operated by franchisees, and owns and operates a roll-wrap production facility. Its head office and main warehouse are located in Johannesburg, with sales offices in Durban and Cape Town. South Africa is one of the target territories for Card Factory’s partnership expansion. The acquisition of SA Greetings, supports this strategic growth pillar by providing access to key wholesale accounts through the company’s printing, merchandising and warehousing capacity. Darcy Willson-Rymer, Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted to have completed the acquisition of SA Greetings and look forward to working with our new colleagues. Under the continued leadership of SA Greetings MD, Willie Engelbrecht, we will closely collaborate to further enhance and develop opportunities for the Card Factory and SA Greetings businesses. “SA Greetings brings with it significant experience operating a wholesale business, which can inform and support development of our retail partnership business, and is entirely aligned with Card Factory’s strategic plan for international expansion. “As well as giving us a foothold into our target South African market, we will also be using their mature printing, merchandising and warehousing facilities to understand how we can deliver similar local capability in other target markets.”
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