Mileway, the last mile logistics real estate company, has signed a lease agreement with MIS Conversions for 153,547 sq ft of refurbished warehouse and office space in Doncaster.
MIS Conversions, the fleet conversion specialists, has agreed to a ten-year lease. The newly secured facility will serve as the company’s headquarters and primary manufacturing site as it scales operations following major contract wins.
Andrew Jones, Mileway managing director UK & Ireland, said: “We’re proud to support MIS Conversions as they take this next step in their growth journey. Doncaster offers a highly skilled local workforce and excellent infrastructure, making it an ideal location for ambitious businesses like MIS.
“This new site not only provides them with the modern, high-quality space they need today, but gives them the flexibility to scale their operations in the future. It’s another example of how Mileway is helping fast-growing businesses thrive with strategic, well-located logistics real estate.”
Knight Frank Sheffield and Commercial Property Partners served as joint agents on the deal.
cardfactory to acquire funkypigeon.com from WH Smith
Wakefield-based cardfactory has entered into an agreement to acquire funkypigeon.com from WH Smith for cash consideration of £24m.
funkypigeon.com operates an online personalised card and attached gifting business, which is supported by its standalone team in Bristol and Guernsey. Over the prior two financial years, Funky Pigeon on average generated £32m revenue per annum and £5m EBITDA.
The acquisition of Funky Pigeon accelerates cardfactory’s digital strategy, providing a platform for online growth, particularly in the direct-to-recipient card and attached gifting market.
By combining Funky Pigeon’s digital platform with cardfactory’s existing omnichannel offer, the business intends to leverage its 24 million unique store customers to develop “a highly competitive online presence in the celebration occasions market.”
Upon completion, cardfactory will be the second largest online card and attached gift retailer in the UK market.
Darcy Willson-Rymer, cardfactory CEO, said: “This acquisition marks a significant step forward in cardfactory’s strategy to build a scaled, competitive digital presence in the celebration occasions market.
“It brings a high-quality platform and proven technology, accelerating our ability to compete in the direct-to-recipient card and gifting segment, so supporting our ambition to become the leading omnichannel retailer in our sector.
“Together, the enlarged customer base will benefit from a richer, more convenient customer proposition, combining the strength of our nationwide store estate and wider celebrations offer with Funky Pigeon’s exceptional digital experience.
“Operational efficiencies, fulfilment synergies, and a unified technology platform will provide the data needed to develop deeper insights into the customer journey, enabling us to build a stronger, more integrated omnichannel business.
“The Board and wider cardfactory team look forward to welcoming Funky Pigeon colleagues to the Group.”
Future secured for Mighty Drinks brand
The administrators of Watkins Drinks Limited have secured the sale of the Yorkshire-based Mighty Drinks brand to alternative protein brand The Mighty Kitchen.
James Clark and Howard Smith from Interpath were appointed joint administrators to Watkins Drinks Limited, trading as Mighty Drinks, on 17 June. Mighty Drinks was one of the UK’s fastest growing dairy alternative brands, with its specialist range of pea protein and oat milks. Its products were sold nationwide from supermarkets and health stores, and it had its own subscription-based service.
After facing trading headwinds experienced by many companies across the plant-based food sector, including rising costs and fragile consumer confidence, the business had been unable to achieve scale and profitability, which led to the administration. The administrators mothballed the business following their appointment and retained a small number of staff to assist with an asset realisation strategy.
After a marketing process, the joint administrators have secured the sale of the Mighty Drinks IP, as well as some stock, to The Mighty Kitchen – an unrelated business that supplies plant-based protein products to the hospitality industry.
The Mighty Kitchen was launched in 2019 and has operations in Cyprus, Greece, UAE and the UK. The Mighty Drinks brand’s remaining three members of staff have been retained by the administrators for a short period of time to assist with the transfer of the brand to the acquirer.
James Clark, managing director at Interpath and joint administrator of Watkins Drinks Limited, said: “We’re pleased to have secured a sale of the Mighty Drinks brand to The Mighty Kitchen, ensuring the continuation of a well-regarded name in the plant-based sector.
“The transaction provides a platform for the brand’s future and the opportunity for the purchaser to exploit the brand overseas. We wish the team at The Mighty Kitchen every success as they take the brand forward and pursue their mission to integrate plant-based products into food culture.”
The Mighty Kitchen CEO, George Vou, said: “This is exciting for us. We’re proud to be able to pick up such a well-crafted brand and to make good use of the work that the team at Mighty has already done.”
The joint administrators are now focused on selling the remaining assets and winding up the administration.
AI workshop series helps SMEs in the north and Midlands adapt to digital transformation
Connectus Business Solutions has launched a new series of free workshops aimed at helping SMEs in the north of England and the Midlands become more AI-ready. The “Evolve AI” initiative, developed in partnership with Doncaster-based Automated Analytics, is designed to provide business owners and decision-makers with practical, actionable insights into AI adoption.
The workshops will focus on demystifying AI technologies and providing tangible steps for integrating AI into businesses. Key concerns, including cost, skills shortages, job displacement, and regulatory uncertainty, will also be addressed throughout the series.
The sessions, running in the second half of 2025, will take place at various locations across the region, starting with an event at Castle Park, Doncaster, on 18th September. Each workshop will be followed by support materials to assist participants in continuing their AI journey.
AI adoption is gaining momentum in the UK, with a projected £78 billion boost to the SME economy over the next decade. However, many SMEs still lack the confidence, expertise, or resources to effectively implement AI. Connectus aims to bridge these gaps by offering a hands-on learning environment where leaders can explore AI’s business value, including automation of routine processes and smarter decision-making.
With its focus on business value and real-world case studies, the workshops will help SMEs identify the most cost-effective ways to adopt AI without major disruptions.
Lincolnshire County Council collaborates with Version 1 for long-term IT overhaul
Lincolnshire County Council has secured a significant partnership with technology consultancy Version 1, aimed at reshaping its IT landscape. The six-year contract, valued at £193 million with the option for two additional years, focuses on delivering a range of critical IT services designed to streamline operations and support future growth.
Under this collaboration, Version 1 will assist the council in managing and maintaining key IT functions, from device lifecycle management and user support to Microsoft 365 administration. The scope also includes cloud optimisation, cybersecurity, and the management of business applications, whether hosted on-site or via Software-as-a-Service solutions.
A major focus of the contract is developing an adaptable IT infrastructure that will evolve with changing technological, legislative, and budgetary demands. The goal is to ensure that the council’s IT systems remain secure, relevant, and responsive to new challenges and opportunities as they arise. This partnership will also allow for the continuous evolution of services to meet best practices and anticipate future business needs.
Croda International reports steady growth and cost-saving initiatives
Croda International, the Goole-based chemicals company, has posted a 7% rise in sales for the first half of 2025, reaching £855.8 million. Pre-tax profits also saw an increase, up 8.4% to £138 million, driven by strategic cost-saving measures.
The company saw broad-based growth across its three business divisions. Consumer Care sales were up 7%, with significant growth in fragrances and flavours (17%) and home care (7%), while beauty care and beauty actives saw more modest increases. Life Sciences reported a 9% rise in sales, supported by strong demand in the crop and pharma sectors, with crop sales rising by 12% and pharma sales up 5%. Industrial Specialities grew by 4%, reflecting steady demand across various regions.
Despite a positive performance, Croda noted that second-quarter sales were slightly lower compared to the first quarter of the year, reflecting ongoing market uncertainty amid a volatile political and economic environment.
For the full year, Croda anticipates adjusted pre-tax profits in the range of £265 million to £295 million. As part of its long-term strategy, the company aims to achieve £100 million in annual cost savings by the end of 2027, with £60 million of savings already identified.
Croda’s CEO emphasised the company’s focus on simplifying operations and enhancing margins, positioning it for continued growth in a challenging business landscape.
Yorkshire’s industrial & logistics market sees strong H1
Yorkshire’s industrial and logistics occupational market has strengthened with a strong H1 performance and includes one of the country’s largest lettings of the year.
In South Yorkshire and North East Derbyshire, the first half of the year saw 2.4m sq ft transacted, marking the strongest H1 period since 2021.
Take-up of units over 50,000 sq ft in Q2 exceeded 1.1 million sq ft, a significant rise from the 422,000 sq ft transacted in the same period last year.
In West Yorkshire, the largest letting in 2025 so far was completed by ID Logistics who took a new lease on Logicor’s 556,000 sq ft high-bay warehouse (Sherburn 550) in Sherburn in Elmet, Selby.
H1 2025 in West Yorkshire totalled 1.7 million sq ft, with 751,600 sq ft recorded in the second quarter (units 50,000 sq ft+), an increase of 41% on H1 last year, boasting the region’s strongest first-half performance since 2021 and continuing a three-year upward trend in take-up.
Commenting on the South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire region, Rebecca Schofield, partner, Knight Frank, said: “We are continuing to see a steady level of occupier requirements in the market. Occupier are taking time to make decisions but we have seen a number of transactions happen at the larger end of the market, which is positive as it demonstrates occupier confidence is returning.
“Whilst there remains choice in the market, some size brackets, such as the 100,000–150,000 sq ft bracket, are seeing more limited supply.
“Demand for the region continues to be from a mixture of B8 and B2 occupiers, which we expect to continue. Availability of power continues to be a driver for both B2 and B8 occupiers.”
Turning to the West Yorkshire and Humber markets, Iain McPhail, partner in Knight Frank’s Leeds Logistics and Industrial Agency team, said: “Take-up in Q2 hit around 750,000 sq ft (50,000 sq ft+).
“Whilst take-up is expected to surpass last year’s total by the end of the next quarter (with over 400,000 sq ft of space under offer), it will highlight the even greater need for speculative development in prime West Yorkshire.
“For greater context, there are now only nine grade A units available in the region, none of which are larger that 200,000 sq ft.
“Consequently rental growth and market sentiment continue to increase in the region with the mid-box headline rent now reaching a new market high of £10.25 psf achieved at Leeds Valley Park.”
Commenting on the South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire region, Rebecca Schofield, partner, Knight Frank, said: “We are continuing to see a steady level of occupier requirements in the market. Occupier are taking time to make decisions but we have seen a number of transactions happen at the larger end of the market, which is positive as it demonstrates occupier confidence is returning.
“Whilst there remains choice in the market, some size brackets, such as the 100,000–150,000 sq ft bracket, are seeing more limited supply.
“Demand for the region continues to be from a mixture of B8 and B2 occupiers, which we expect to continue. Availability of power continues to be a driver for both B2 and B8 occupiers.”
Turning to the West Yorkshire and Humber markets, Iain McPhail, partner in Knight Frank’s Leeds Logistics and Industrial Agency team, said: “Take-up in Q2 hit around 750,000 sq ft (50,000 sq ft+).
“Whilst take-up is expected to surpass last year’s total by the end of the next quarter (with over 400,000 sq ft of space under offer), it will highlight the even greater need for speculative development in prime West Yorkshire.
“For greater context, there are now only nine grade A units available in the region, none of which are larger that 200,000 sq ft.
“Consequently rental growth and market sentiment continue to increase in the region with the mid-box headline rent now reaching a new market high of £10.25 psf achieved at Leeds Valley Park.” Chadwick Lawrence becomes Huddersfield Town Football Club’s legal partner
Chadwick Lawrence Solicitors has been named Huddersfield Town Football Club’s official legal partner, continuing the firm’s long-standing partnership with the club.
The firm recently negotiated its biggest-ever sponsorship agreement – a five-year exclusive naming rights deal for the Club’s home ground, now known as Accu Stadium.
Alongside being its legal partner, the firm has various sponsorship agreements in place.
The latest agreement, which began in June 2024, saw Chadwick Lawrence become the official technical area sponsor, which includes sponsorship of the dugouts and seat hoods in the dugouts, and advertising on the programmes, LEDs, TV and jumbo screens, and a static sponsor board both inside and outside the stadium.
For the 2025/26 football season, Chadwick Lawrence will move into the newly refurbished 1908 lounge, as part of its matchday hospitality package.
The firm will have eight seats in the lounge, which will bring it closer to the local businesses, and seats in the Director’s Box alongside match sponsorship for the Barnsley vs Huddersfield Town game.
Neil Wilson, managing partner at Chadwick Lawrence, said: “The firm has had a partnership with Huddersfield Town AFC for many years, acting as its trusted legal advisor on commercial matters and offering valuable sponsorship.
“Our relationship continues to grow, and we are thrilled to officially be named as the club’s official legal partner; a collaboration which reflects the firm’s deep roots in the West Yorkshire community and our commitment to supporting both local sport and business.”
Paul Reeves, chief revenue officer at Huddersfield Town AFC, added: “We are proud to partner with Chadwick Lawrence Solicitors and also work with them on a professional basis as our trusted legal representatives on all commercial matters.
“Over the past months, the firm’s legal expertise and commercial know-how has been crucial in finalising some of the largest commercial sponsorship terms that the club has worked on, including the naming rights deal.
“These are huge developments for the Club, and Chadwick Lawrence played a vital role in working with us to get them contracted and finalise commercial terms. Their ability to negotiate firmly, move quickly, and think strategically has been excellent and they have been a pleasure to work alongside.”
Helmsley Group appoints new group business ambassador
Helmsley Group, a property investment and development specialist based in York, has appointed Jeremy Oliver as its new group business ambassador.
Jeremy brings over 35 years of experience in business advisory, accountancy, and strategic development after spending more than three decades at accountancy firm Garbutt & Elliott, now known as Azets, where he worked as an advisor to SMEs, family businesses, and entrepreneurs across Yorkshire.
In his new role, Jeremy will focus on business development, client liaison, and driving new investor engagement across Helmsley Group’s portfolio. He will also support the identification and growth of new business opportunities throughout the Yorkshire region, helping to strengthen Helmsley’s investor network and expand its reach across key sectors.
Speaking about his appointment, Jeremy Oliver, group business ambassador at Helmsley Group, said: “I’m thrilled to be joining Helmsley Group at such an exciting time and to contribute to its vision for growth and regeneration across York and the wider region. The business is building on 45 years of experience and a track record of success which I’m excited to become a part of and help drive Helmsley’s continued growth.”
Ed Harrowsmith, director at Helmsley Group, added: “Jeremy’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for Helmsley as we continue to grow our investor base and bring forward new opportunities across the region. His consultancy and extensive network will be invaluable in helping us deliver long-term value for our clients and partners. We’re delighted to welcome him to the team.”
Palletforce expands coverage with new member in north-east Yorkshire
Palletforce has strengthened its network by adding York Warehousing & Distribution (YWD) Transport to handle the YO postcodes in north-east Yorkshire. The new addition will cover a wide area, including Malton, Pickering, and Scarborough, bringing over 30 years of market experience to ensure a high-quality service.
YWD’s transport operation, launched five years ago by Joe Wilkinson and Matt Potts, has grown steadily despite industry challenges. Their expertise in haulage and distribution makes them well-positioned to handle the demands of the region. The move into Palletforce’s network is aimed at further expanding their capabilities and driving sustainable growth.
YWD’s extensive warehousing infrastructure, consisting of four storage sites, handles goods for a variety of well-known high-street and consumer brands. By joining Palletforce, YWD Transport aims to leverage its local knowledge while offering the operational support and resources of a larger network.
The partnership highlights Palletforce’s ongoing strategy to enhance its coverage by integrating experienced local players, ensuring operational stability and superior service standards across its network.
