Yorkshire’s workplace wellbeing champions crowned at national awards
The Yorkshire & Humberside organisations and businesses leading the way in promoting their employees’ wellbeing have been honoured in a brand new awards series.
Three prizes were given out to Yorkshire-based companies with Best Wellbeing Initiative going to Humberside Police, Best Financial Initiative to Yorkshire Building Society and Best Physical Initiative to Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy.
The Great British Workplace Wellbeing Awards were founded last year by the Great British Entrepreneur Awards team and industry specialists Wellity Global to recognise the inspiring response of employers across the UK to the ongoing wellbeing and mental health crisis amongst the working population.
Work-life balance, stress management and personal struggles have increasingly impacted employees in recent years, and were particularly highlighted during the global COVID-19 outbreak when organisations were compelled to pay closer attention to their staff’s welfare.
The final was held for the first time at the Grosvenor Hotel in London and was hosted by radio presenter and opera singer Wynne Evans, who also interviewed former world champion boxer Frank Bruno MBE live on stage. Seventeen awards were given out to the applicants whose efforts to innovate their company’s wellbeing policy had the biggest impact on the judges.
The awards were judged by a panel of industry experts and campaigners for better standards of wellbeing and mental health support, including Simon Blake OBE, CEO of Mental Health First Aid England, and Amanda Webb from Gymshark.
The Great British Workplace Wellbeing Awards is one of several series run by the Great British Entrepreneur Awards founders, who were blown away by the huge number of applications they received in its inaugural year.
Co-founder of the awards Francesca James is eager to see the event put on annually following its success: “We were proud to see the awards generate so much enthusiasm and participation, from the opening of applications through to awards night, and found the stories of the finalists to be immensely inspiring.
“Recent times have been tough for everybody, but the commendable efforts of our finalists to push for the workplace wellbeing standards we all deserve are a real glimmer of hope that things will get better with collaboration and understanding. Congratulations to the award winners!”
Dealing with cyber security developments: our top tips
Technology changes rapidly, with new developments coming out every day. What was cutting edge yesterday might be obsolete today and this is also the case with cyber security. Cyber threats and hackers are becoming more and more sophisticated, and businesses need to adapt to different threats as quickly as possible.
Fortunately, there are many ways to ensure your business deals with cyber security developments effectively. You will need to plan carefully to ensure you stay on top of the latest trends, but the hard work will be worthwhile. Here are some of our top tips to help you stay on top of cyber security developments.
Get Notifications With The Latest News
Following the latest news is one of the best ways to protect your business. There are numerous publications that can help you stay updated on the latest trends. You could consider setting up a Google Alert that will notify you when certain keywords are used in articles.
It is best to use a range of publications to help you get the most relevant information. Journals, news websites, blogs and hard copy magazines can all be excellent sources of information. You should ensure that the sources you use are reputable and reliable. Check their writers’ credentials to ensure you get news from a trustworthy reporter.
Get Your Business ISO 27001 Certified
ISO 27001 is a framework that ensures your business complies with the very best practices for cyber security. It can provide you with the peace of mind that your business is operating at the highest level in cyber security. Getting certified in ISO 27001 can be a lengthy process, but it is well worth it.
There are companies you can use to help you get certified and make the process much simpler. High Table are experts in ISO 27001 and are an excellent choice to help you get certified. They offer a range of services, including ISO 27001 policy templates to help you get started. You can learn more from High Table to understand the benefits of partnering with a reputable company.
Train Your Team Regularly
With the rate at which cyber threats can change and adapt, you will need to ensure your team is suitably educated to deal with the challenges they may face. As an employer, it is your job to ensure your team have the required knowledge and skills to keep your business cyber secure.
There are plenty of options for training that you could offer your staff. Always do your homework and understand the training options available. Online courses can be an excellent option to educate your team without them having to take too much time out of their busy work schedule.
Create A Cyber Security Team
Creating a team devoted to cyber security can be a fantastic way to help you keep on top of the latest developments. You could make part of their role researching and stay updated on the latest news. They can then pass on what they learn to you, and you can strategize to come up with the best ways to use the information.
Final sponsorship opportunities available for Women of Achievement Awards
Just a few opportunities remain to sponsor the region’s biggest event celebrating the success of women in the local business community.
The Women of Achievement Awards, organised by Women in Business Hull, are one of the most prestigious of their kind in Hull and East Yorkshire, and celebrate the achievements of female entrepreneurs, who either run their own business or hold a leading role in their profession, industry, organisation or charity.
The much-anticipated event is back on the local business calendar for 2022 after a two-year delay caused by the Coronavirus pandemic and will now take place on Friday 11th November 2022 at the Mercure Hotel in Willerby.
With 400 people expected to attend, tickets for the awards sell out in a matter of days, so those interested in sponsoring the event are encouraged to get in touch soon to avoid disappointment.
News of its return has been welcomed by local businesses, with just three of the 10 award categories still available for sponsorship. Sponsors already confirmed for the awards include Smailes Goldie, Harrison Solway, MKM and The One Point.
Natalie Houfe, chair of Women in Business Hull, which celebrated its 25th anniversary last year, said:
“We’re thrilled to bring the awards back this year. The last two years have been difficult and disruptive for many businesses, yet we know there are lots of examples out there of women who’ve risen to the challenge, adapting what they do and the way they work to come through it stronger than ever.
“It’s a great opportunity to be part of one of the local business community’s largest events and to champion the achievements of women across the region.”
The sponsorship opportunities still available include the Voluntary Award, the Apprentice/Trainee Award and the Women in STEM Award. Sponsorship benefits include two tickets to the awards event and VIP drinks reception, the opportunity to present an award, branding on all the awards collateral and at the event and numerous PR and social media opportunities in the lead up to the awards.
Other opportunities to support the award include advertising in the event programme.
York Handmade Brick Company helps deliver North Yorkshire office development
York Handmade Brick Company has played a significant role in a prestigious North Yorkshire office development.
The Easingwold-based firm has supplied specially-manufactured bricks for a “beautiful” new office HQ for All Steels Trading on the outskirts of Thirsk.
Altogether York Handmade provided more than 8,000 Maxima bricks for the 4,000 sq ft office, called Vulcan House and designed by David Bamford Architects of Otley.
David Armitage, chairman of York Handmade, said: “This is one of my very favourite projects that we have undertaken in Yorkshire recently. All Steels Trading’s new headquarters really is a statement building, which enhances the entrance to Thirsk from York Road and the A19.
“Our long, thin Maxima bricks, which are proving increasingly popular, give the building an elegant, sophisticated feel that reflect the ethos of All Steels Trading. It has been a privilege to play a part in creating an attractive development.
“While we have recently completed some stunning commissions for residential and commercial developments in London and other UK cities, it is vitally important that we continue to provide our bricks to more local Yorkshire companies. It is a real pleasure to see our work being represented locally and tremendously gratifying to see our bricks being used so close to home.”
Scarlett Reeves, project development and quality manager at All Steels Trading, said: “We are very pleased and proud of our new offices in Thirsk. The design that David Bamford produced and the modern sleek finish that we achieved with the use of the bespoke bricks, along with the windows and doors, has made for a very beautiful building admired by all our visitors.
“Indeed, we have had local residents knocking on the door and complimenting us on the building being an attractive welcome into Thirsk when entering from the A19 and A168 and a great improvement to the area.”
David Bamford of David Bamford Architects said: “All Steels Trading wanted a modern well-designed office to make an appropriate statement using traditional materials. Brick, slate and glass were the obvious choice for this location.
“York Handmade Brick had been used in the past by ourselves and provide an interesting range of bricks and were therefore a natural choice for a traditional and local material. I am pleased with the visual appearance of the brickwork at Vulcan House.”
Vulcan House was built by Mark Stringer Ltd of Whitby.
First new occupier moves into newly refurbished Leeds offices
Hillview Real Estate, the UK regional office investor, advised jointly by Savills and WSB Property, has let office space at Sovereign House on South Parade in Leeds to Strativ Group Ltd.
The global recruitment agency has agreed to a new 10-year lease for 6,110 sq ft (567 sq m) on the second floor of the five-storey building and will pay an annual rent of £158,860.
This latest deal follows the comprehensive refurbishment of the Grade II listed building, which dates back to 1862. Works undertaken include a new high quality reception, bike storage and shower facilities, along with sustainable features such as LED lighting.
Dom Ketteringham, asset manager at Hillview Real Estate, said: “This lease agreement reflects the broad-based pick-up in occupational activity we are seeing across the portfolio and endorses our strategy of refurbishing well-located offices in regional cities to offer tenants a high-spec work environment with access to a wide range of amenities.”
Virtual reality business becomes latest to join Hull tech community
A business leading the way in virtual reality radiation training systems is relocating to the heart of Hull’s tech community as it continues to grow its team.
Vertual’s state-of-the-art training system, VERT, is used to train radiographers and physicists in universities and teaching hospitals in more than 30 countries across the world.
Now, the company has relocated from The Maltings in Hull city centre to join the ever-growing digital community at developer Wykeland Group’s @TheDock tech campus in the city’s Fruit Market.
Vertual is occupying a 2,000 sq ft office suite on the second floor of the building next to the Centre for Digital Innovation (C4DI) tech hub, overlooking the Stage @TheDock amphitheatre.
The Vertual team has more than doubled over recent years and further recruitment is planned following a phased move to the new offices, where staff will operate through a combination of fully remote, hybrid and office-based working.
Fiona Law, business manager at Vertual, said @TheDock was the place to be in Hull for tech businesses and the company’s move supports its future ambitions. She said: “The minute we walked into our new office space we knew it was perfect for us and we wanted to be part of the tech community here.
“We’d already looked at lots of locations, but this office is great and ideal for us, close to the city centre, with excellent transport links and with all the restaurants and shops in Humber Street on the doorstep too.
“We’re expanding our product range and we have lots of great projects in the pipeline. We’re increasing our head count and recruiting for new talent across the business, including more software engineers. It’s an exciting time for Vertual. We’re looking forward to settling into our new home and being part of this community.”
Vertual was launched in Hull in 2007 by three founders as a spin-off company from a joint research project involving the University of Hull and Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
Debra Leeves, Chief Executive Officer at Vertual, said: “The past few years have seen rapid growth at Vertual. We have doubled the number of employees, developed and expanded our range of VR training products and expanded internationally.
“Last year was Vertual’s most successful and profitable year since the company started. Despite COVID-19 and navigating our way through new Brexit rules and paperwork, we changed our business model, which led us to think about how we would want to use our office space in the future.
“When we started looking for new office space we knew we wanted it to be modern, light, hi-tech and among other growing and successful companies in the city. But, most of all, we wanted it to be a place where our team and future employees would want to work.”
Vertual’s new home has enabled the company to accommodate dedicated desks for office-based staff as well as hot desks used by team members who split their time between the office and remote working.
It also features an assembly and test area for newer products, such as the company’s Compact VERT system and a quiet working area where Vertual’s growing R&D team can focus on creating the next new products and hold project meetings.
Vertual’s move to @TheDock continues the growth of the tech community, which has been driven forward by Wykeland. The Hull-based developer’s investment at the waterfront site began with the opening of the C4DI tech hub six years ago and has continued in phases, including the recent opening of a second C4DI building.
@TheDock has generated hundreds of highly-skilled jobs and has been a vital element in the transformation of the Fruit Market area into a vibrant commercial, creative, cultural and residential community and magnet for investment.
John Gouldthorp, asset manager at Wykeland, said: “We’re really pleased to welcome the Vertual team to @TheDock, where they will be very much at home among so many other tech businesses that are leaders in their fields.
“Vertual is just the latest digital venture to recognise the many advantages of being part of a community where collaboration is an integral part of the culture. Those benefits extend to being located within the Fruit Market, which offers the vibrant atmosphere and social life that is so attractive to both existing employees and potential recruits.”
Multi-million pound Albert Ave Pools renovation begins
A major refurbishment project to Hull’s Albert Avenue Pools is now underway.
The £10.5million project will see the construction of a new large gym and fitness studio that will offer aerobic classes for the first time, remodelling, refurbishment and redecoration of the existing building, replacement of all mechanical and electrical systems, alongside new heating and ventilation systems.
The scheme also includes the construction of a brand-new outdoor lido, replacing the original one which closed more than 30 years ago. This new heated lido specification will create an improved experience for users, as well as meeting international standards that will be able to accommodate top-level kayak polo and competitive swimming.
Cllr Daren Hale, Leader of Hull City Council said:
“It’s fantastic to see this project get underway – the final piece in our city-wide leisure investment puzzle. The jewel in the crown being the new lido which I already know will attract visitors from across the region.
“I’m looking forward to seeing this scheme progress and getting users back in there next year.”
The project is being delivered by Hull Esteem Consortium LEP, the council’s pre-procured framework, with work undertaken by local contractors Hobson and Porter.
Gavin Barley, General Manager of Hull Esteem said:
“Getting the green-light on such a multi-faceted project to transform Albert Avenue Pools is a huge deal for all parties involved and we’re delighted to be working with Hobson and Porter once again to improve an important leisure facility for the community.
“Forming part of Hull City Council’s £18.5 million investment into leisure facilities across the city, it will not only be a massive benefit to the local area once complete, but we’re sure it will become an attraction for those visiting our city.”
Richard Hunter, Managing Director for Hobson & Porter said: “We are excited to see works begin at Albert Avenue Pools after many months of hard work to design and develop the project.
“I was lucky enough to be involved in the last major refurbishment of the facility in the mid 90’s, although it did not reflect the scale of the project we are delivering now.
“In addition to the extensive refurbishment of the existing building, we are also constructing a sizeable extension and completely rebuilding the iconic lido; additions which are testament to the authority’s continued investment in the city’s leisure assets. We can’t wait to get started on this exciting multi-phase project.” It is expected the centre will reopen to the public in summer 2023.
Huge investment boost for Hull city centre with launch of new £7.5m Levelling Up Fund Grant Scheme
A new grant scheme has been launched to support various businesses and inject millions of pounds of investment into Hull city centre.
£7.5m has been allocated from the £19.5m awarded to Hull City Council from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund to finance a grant scheme that will support new and existing businesses in the city centre.
The Levelling Up Fund Grant Scheme will issue grants of up to £750,000, that can be awarded with a minimum of 50 per cent match funding from the applicant.
Councillor Daren Hale, leader of Hull City Council and portfolio holder for regeneration and investment, said: “We’ve seen the success of grant schemes in revitalising our city centre – most notably in the Old Town, on the marina and at Trinity Market.
“This new grant scheme is the biggest we have ever created and its reach will be far greater than previous schemes, with the ability to reenergise a much wider area of our city centre.
“These type of schemes, alongside the various other examples of public and private investment, have the ability to transform the heart of our city for generations to come.”
The Levelling Up Fund Grant Scheme will bring unused floorspace of any vacant or partially occupied property back into use. Similar to previous grant schemes in the Old Town, the Levelling Up Grant Scheme will allow various diverse businesses to open and operate, breathing new life into the area.
The grant scheme will cover Whitefriargate, Albion Square and the surrounding connecting areas.
Previous grant schemes have supported various businesses in the city centre to either open or develop.
In November last year, The 55 Group, a collective of leading cross-industry businesses, completed its relocation to the former HSBC building on Whitefriargate in Hull city centre following a £1.6m redevelopment project.
The project was supported by a £711,000 grant from the Humber High Street Challenge Fund.
Gerard Toplass, group chief executive of The 55 Group, said: “While our businesses operate nationally, we are extremely proud of our Hull-based roots and are passionate about promoting Hull as a city of excellence.
“It’s excellent news for Hull that this Levelling Up Fund Grant Scheme is being launched to support further investment and rejuvenation to create even better opportunities for those living here. It’s a city that understands the value that comes from investment, which we have fully supported through the refurbishment of our headquarters, and we look forward to seeing what the fund will enable Hull to achieve.”
The Hull and East Yorkshire LEP’s Humber High Street Challenge Fund, alongside Historic England’s High Street Heritage Action Zone, has already delivered grants to various projects and businesses in the Whitefriargate area.
Interested parties are asked to submit an expression of interest form and successful applicants will be invited to complete a full application form.
Council proposes to develop Local Area Energy Plan for the city
A proposal to develop the York Local Area Energy Plan will be brought to Executive Member for Environment and Climate Change Decision Session next week (9 March).
The proposal recommends that £110,000 be allocated to commission the work, to enable robust decision making for the future of York’s energy infrastructure, supporting the cities transition to net zero carbon.
Developing this plan for York, will provide an optimised, cost-effective and evidence-based energy pathway that brings the ambition of a net zero carbon York by 2030 closer, by providing a technically viable plan for decarbonising our city-wide energy system.
A Local Area Energy Plan would consider factors such as current carbon emissions from buildings and transport, as well as future energy changes from large developments alongside switches to renewable energy. In addition, the plan would measure and consider the social impact of energy changes such as the cost of switching to renewable sources and any potential disruption from infrastructure changes along with actions such as retrofitting homes.
The proposed city wide energy plan will provide a pipeline for investment in local and regional energy infrastructure that delivers zero carbon at lowest possible cost, supporting increased uptake of renewable generation and improving network resilience.
Cllr Paula Widdowson, Executive Member for Environment and Climate Change, said: “York has an ambitious target to be carbon net-zero by 2030. We know that in surveys taken through Our Big Conversation last year that over 80% of respondents agree with this goal.
“However, delivering a reduction in carbon emissions must take into account the impact this will have on residents and businesses. I want to ensure that the steps we take deliver value for money and an overall positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of people in York.
“Local Area Energy Planning is a critical enabler to decarbonisation, highlighting new opportunities for future plans across the city.
“I look forward to considering the proposal at my next decision session to consider how we can continue to build a greener, cleaner city here in York.”
Leader considers York’s Great British Railways bid
The Leader of City of York Council will consider the submission of York’s bid to become the home of the newly created Great British Railways at a decision session next week.
In February this year the Department for Transport announced a competition to find the first headquarters of Great British Railways.
Since that announcement, the council and its partners have worked together to mount a bid, positioning York as the ideal home for Great British Railways.
The competition seeks bids from towns and cities with a rich railway history and which are strongly linked to the rail network, aiming for the new headquarters to take pride of place at the heart of a new era for Britain’s railways. Following extensive work with partners and rail operators in the city, York’s historic and strong connection to the rail sector will form the heart of the city’s bid to government.
At a meeting on 9 March Councillor Keith Aspden, the Leader of the Council, will be asked to approve the submission of York’s formal expression of interest. In turn, that will signal the city’s intent to bid jointly with North Yorkshire County Council and York and North Yorkshire Local Economic Partnership, to locate the new headquarters of Great British Railways here in York.
Councillor Keith Aspden, Leader of City of York Council said: “York is the natural home for Great British Railways, standing at the heart of the UK’s rail network and with a rail history stretching back centuries.
“We believe that the public and the government will see that our rich rail heritage, skilled population and future development opportunities, such as York Central, make York the ideal home for Great British Railways.
“Even before the competition was announced, we have been working with our partners to put York in the best possible position to succeed, and over the coming weeks and months, we will undertake further work to give York’s bid real momentum.”
The Leader will be asked to delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Place to finalise and submit final bid after final consultation with the Leader. The bid needs to be submitted by the deadline, 16 March.
