Irwin Mitchell strengthens immigration team with acquisition
Sheffield-headquartered Irwin Mitchell has strengthened its private client immigration team with the strategic acquisition of the immigration team and ongoing work of boutique firm Carter Thomas.
The Carter Thomas team bring a wealth of specialist expertise, particularly in the education, sports, technology, and corporate compliance sectors. Following the deal Irwin Mitchell will have immigration specialists working in Sheffield, London, Newcastle and Manchester enhancing its established national footprint.
Seven fee earners will transition to Irwin Mitchell’s growing immigration team led by partner and national head Mandeep Khroud.
Nichola Carter, founder of Carter Thomas, will join Irwin Mitchell’s immigration team as a partner.
Nichola said: “We’ve built a reputation for delivering straightforward, expert advice quickly and clearly. Joining Irwin Mitchell gives us access to a full suite of legal services, enabling us to support our clients even more comprehensively. We’re excited to be part of such a forward-thinking and dynamic team.”
Mandeep Khroud, partner and head of immigration at Irwin Mitchell, said: “This is a fantastic addition to our team. Our new colleagues bring excellent expertise and deep sector specialisms that perfectly complement our existing strengths. Together, we’re establishing ourselves as a powerhouse in UK Immigration law.”
Council seeks new housing partner for historic Huddersfield site
Kirklees Council is seeking a new development partner for the Grade II* listed Estate Buildings in Huddersfield, following the withdrawal of the original housing provider, Thirteen Group, which cited sector risks.
The site, located near the George Hotel and railway station, had previously secured £1.25m in government funding to support enabling works for a planned social housing scheme. The withdrawal of Thirteen Group leaves the council exploring alternative options to repurpose the building, which dates back to the late 1800s and features protected interiors, including stained glass, carved fireplaces, and decorative wood panelling.
The council acknowledges that redevelopment will be complex and costly due to the building’s listed status, but intends to use the remaining grant funding to reduce upfront costs and attract a developer. Under the proposed model, a selected partner would enter into a building lease agreement and acquire the freehold upon project completion.
The council estimates that the redevelopment could generate up to £95,000 in annual council tax and reduce ongoing maintenance costs, currently exceeding £29,000 per year.
A cabinet decision is expected on Tuesday. If no viable contract is in place by 31 March 2028, the council risks having to repay the £1.25m grant.
Business decision-makers ‘paralysed’ by volatile risk landscape warns report
Business decision-makers are becoming ‘paralysed’ by constant crisis and their excessive caution is limiting growth opportunities, a new report from accountancy and business advisory firm BDO has warned.
In total, 84% of international business leaders surveyed as part of BDO’s annual Global Risk Landscape Report 2025 said the global risk landscape is now, more than ever, defined by crisis.
In response, executives are taking a much more defensive approach, with more than two thirds (69%) saying their companies are either ‘risk averse’ or ‘risk minimising’, a rise from 61% last year.
Only 7% of executives said their risk management was ‘very proactive’, down from 19% in 2024 and 29% 2023.
The report found that top six risks keeping business leaders up at night were regulatory risk, concerns over supply chains, recruiting and retaining talent, geopolitical tensions, environmental issues and cybercrime.
While regulators are demanding ever-more information about risks, some executives (39%) agreed that this had a positive impact in helping to make companies safer, but a larger proportion (57%) said regulatory demands were only ‘somewhat’ helpful in reducing company risk profiles.
However, CEOs surveyed were critical of compliance overspend, suggesting that current risk management strategies are failing to deliver value.
Alisa Voznaya, partner and head of risk consulting at BDO, said: “The risk landscape for businesses has been in flux for more than a decade and shows no sign of stabilising.
“Faced with this relentless volatility, some business leaders are being too hesitant to take decisions and paralysed by the fear of what could go wrong. But this safety-first approach means businesses are missing out on opportunities and limiting their growth prospects.
“Part of the problem is that businesses are increasingly taking a compliance-led approach to risk, with a box-ticking mentality distracting from the management of actual risks.
“Many would do well to adopt a more proactive approach, engaging in regular scenario planning and anticipating the things that could go wrong so they can start to identify opportunities. Businesses shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that there can be competitive gains to be made from responding positively to challenging circumstances.”
Former car park in Halifax transformed into 122 green apartments
A once-vacant multi-storey car park in Halifax has been transformed into a new community of 122 sustainable rental homes.
At an official ribbon-cutting event, the Mayor of Calderdale, Ann Kingstone, Placefirst and Calderdale Council unveiled Bolt Works – a development offering modern, energy-efficient, one and two-bedroom apartments.
Professionally managed by Placefirst, Bolt Works is Halifax’s first dedicated build-to-rent community.
Set off Cow Green, the development draws inspiration from Halifax’s rich industrial heritage, blending striking architecture with modern sustainable technologies, including solar panels, heat pumps, and MVHR (mechanical ventilation with heat recovery) systems to help lower bills and reduce the building’s carbon footprint.
The development integrates with Calderdale Council’s wider town centre regeneration strategy, including transformation of travel and public spaces through the A629 phase 2 Halifax town centre project.
Calderdale Council and Placefirst have worked closely in partnership to deliver the scheme
The homes at Cow Green have been built on the site of a car park that was demolished in 2016 after being deemed unsafe. Calderdale Council approved Placefirst’s transformation of the site after considering uses that were “appropriate to its prominence,” being situated on a key gateway into Halifax.
The scheme was funded primarily by Placefirst with contributions from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Brownfield Housing Fund and a loan from the Greater Manchester Pension Fund.
Caddick Construction acted as the main contractor for the scheme, delivering the project in close collaboration with Placefirst and a team of expert consultants, including JM architects, Walker Sime, Roscoe, Hydrock, Stantec, TACE, and DEP Landscape Architecture.
Phil Jones, director of development at Placefirst, said: “Bolt Works is much more than bricks and mortar – we’ve built a community where people can feel at home right in the heart of Halifax. Today’s renters want more than a roof over their heads – they’re looking for great homes, in great locations, that fit their lifestyle, and that’s exactly what Bolt Works delivers.
“This project shows the huge potential in reimagining underused town centre spaces into neighbourhoods full of life, with great homes and spaces people are proud to call home. It’s been fantastic to work alongside Calderdale Council to make this vision a reality, and we’re excited to see the first residents bringing the place to life.”
Calderdale Council’s cabinet member for climate action and housing, cllr Scott Patient, said: “The new homes at Bolt Works support our priority for thriving towns and places, regenerating underused spaces and creating much-needed homes, in a great central location.
“The development contributes to wider regeneration work across Halifax and the Calderdale area, creating a place where people want to live, work, study and do business. I’m also pleased to see sustainability at the heart of the development, with innovative technologies used to improve energy efficiency and reduce the building’s environmental impact, supporting our climate objectives.”
Tracy Brabin, mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “Our multimillion-pound investment into this flagship scheme has helped to convert a run-down car park into over a hundred high quality and energy efficient homes in the heart of Halifax.
“This is devolution in action – strong partnership working to breathe new life into our disused brownfield sites and build a greener, more secure region which everyone is proud to call home.”
Steve Ford, regional managing director at Caddick Construction Yorkshire and North-East, said: “The Bolt Works project has proved what’s possible when unused brownfield sites are redeveloped with the community at the forefront and we are proud to have been a part of this fantastic development for Halifax.
“Caddick has been delivering first-class builds across the region for over 45 years, with a great number of those being new neighbourhoods and high-rise residential schemes, which makes us the perfect fit for this project. We’re pleased to have officially handed over Bolt Works to Placefirst to now welcome the first residents.”
Major remediation works complete on 12-acre York gas works site
Dudleys Consulting Engineers has completed works to remediate a complicated former gas works site close to York city centre. The practice was retained to oversee all ground engineering works for ‘The Gas Works’ to prepare the site for intended residential development.
The 12-acre brownfield site at Heworth Green in York was previously occupied by an array of structures including 22m tall gasometers, low rise warehouse and office buildings, major gas distribution pipework and infrastructure, an electricity sub-station, and a telecoms mast.
In 2020 planning approval was secured for full site demolition, site remediation and development of a residential led development for up to 600 homes.
Dudleys was appointed principal engineering partner to the development in 2018 when it supported the planning phases with expert evidence and advice. It undertook considerable site investigations in conjunction with Dunelm Geotechnical & Environmental Ltd to establish contamination levels and prepare a strategy with the Council for the safe removal of the gasometer, and the diversion of a major over-ground gas main serving York City Centre moving underground.
Dudleys worked alongside remediation specialist, The Sirius Group with an extensive programme involving a full site turnover, excavation and treatment of contaminated soils, reengineering of site materials, crushing of demolished materials, protection of a gas main, civil engineering works and service diversions.
Andy Walker at Dudleys Consulting Engineers said: “We have been advising on The Gas Works in York for over six years with a very carefully procured strategy to clean up the site ready for new development. We faced many challenges due to significant contamination from 100 years of coke and sea gas uses with many buried structures.
“Our expert team has successfully navigated these challenges, and we are delighted to hand over this strategically important, disused brownfield site ready for much needed new residential accommodation in York.
“The scheme has been a great ‘Team Effort’ drawing on the experience and capabilities of many consultants and individuals including Aspect4 Ltd (Project Management), O’Neill Associates (Planning Consultants), Vincent & Partners (Architecture), Dunelm Geotechnical (Site Investigation/Remediation), and Ellmes (Development Director).”
Permit revoked at Yorkshire waste site after regulatory breaches
The Environment Agency has revoked the environmental permit for Mineral Processing Ltd’s South Elmsall waste site following multiple breaches and a failed appeal against an earlier suspension notice.
The revocation means the company must stop all permitted waste activities and begin removing material from the site. The company has 20 working days to appeal, during which the permit remains active.
This action follows a ruling from the Planning Inspectorate on 3 June, which dismissed the company’s appeal against the Environment Agency’s 2024 suspension notice. The Inspectorate found the site held significantly more waste than permitted, including unauthorised and hazardous materials, and posed multiple pollution risks. These included groundwater and surface water contamination, air pollution from dust and odour, and increased methane levels.
Mineral Processing Ltd is now under investigation for suspected offences committed since the suspension notice was issued. The Agency is also assessing further enforcement actions, including prosecution.
Monitoring efforts are ongoing, including odour tracking and site inspections. The operator has been ordered to submit an Odour Management Plan. The Environment Agency is working in partnership with Wakefield Council and the UK Health Security Agency.
AI and copyright risk collide in UK screen sector
A new British Film Institute (BFI) report has spotlighted pressing legal, ethical, and operational risks posed by the use of generative AI in the UK’s screen sector. The study, conducted in partnership with CoSTAR universities Goldsmiths, Loughborough, and Edinburgh, warns that training AI models using copyrighted scripts without consent could destabilise the industry’s IP-driven economy. With film and TV content forming the backbone of UK screen exports, any devaluation of original content poses a threat to its long-term commercial viability.
The report also highlights the impact of automation on creative jobs, raises concerns about biased data in generative content, and discusses the environmental toll of energy-intensive AI processes. Despite these challenges, the BFI notes that the UK is well-positioned to lead in AI-powered creative technology, with over 13,000 firms in the sector. It highlights initiatives from the BBC and Charismatic consortium (Channel 4 and Aardman-backed) aimed at democratising AI access for content creators.
To ensure resilience and competitiveness, the report recommends a national strategy that includes licensing intellectual property (IP) for AI use, embedding green standards, investing in workforce skills, and supporting independent creators with ethical AI tools. The findings form part of CoSTAR’s broader £75.6m programme to futureproof UK digital entertainment leadership.
£37m plan unveiled to get West Yorkshire working
A new multimillion-pound plan aims to guarantee a healthy working life to everyone in West Yorkshire, through new personalised support for people who are out of work because of a disability or health condition.
The region’s £37 million plan for healthy working life has been co-created with the NHS following consultation with residents and employers. It aims to grow the economy and put more money in people’s pockets by supporting those with sickness or disability into secure, well-paid work.
By bringing health services together with providers of employment support – including job centres, charities, councils and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority – the region’s Mayor and NHS leadership have pledged to deliver the “healthiest residents and workforce in England by 2040.”
They will do this by ending the approach of public services working in isolation from each other, which fails to acknowledge the full needs of a person who is being held back unfairly by a health condition. Instead, by providing a joined-up approach, patients will receive a wrap-around service made possible by devolution. For example, individuals may receive expert employment advice as part of their NHS treatment or care pathway.
Mayor Tracy Brabin said the plan marked a “watershed moment” for West Yorkshire, where the right support would help to ensure that everyone who was able to work, could.
The ambitious regional plan has been made possible by the UK Government’s Plan for Change. This aims to boost living standards and grow the economy by unlocking work for the 2.8 million people who are economically inactive due to long-term sickness, including by funding and devolving services so they can be joined up at a regional level to have a bigger impact.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “We’ve spoken to people across our great region who are living with health conditions, and the answer was clear – too many people feel written off from good health and good work when the right support could transform their lives.
“Today marks a watershed moment for our region. By joining up health, skills and work with a multimillion-pound plan that’s backed by the government, we’ll ensure that everyone can get the personalised support they need to succeed.
“To grow our economy we must unlock the potential of everyone in it, and that includes giving those with health conditions a fair chance to flourish. Through our strong regional partnership, we’ll build a healthier, wealthier West Yorkshire.”
Rob Webster CBE, Chief Executive of the NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), said: “This is good news for people in West Yorkshire and the wider region. We know good work is a route to good health. We also know that there are people in West Yorkshire who are economically inactive due to their health conditions who want to be supported to stay in work or get back into work.
“We have a history of good collaboration in West Yorkshire and will use this resource to show how better, joined up support for people can change lives.”
The launch of the plan follows the selection of Wakefield by the government to be the first place in the country to trial a new, more personalised Jobs and Careers Service for jobseekers.
Under the pilot, the jobcentre will test bold new ideas, including working more closely with local employers to provide clear pathways into good jobs. The reforms are aimed at involving local areas in the design and delivery of welfare services to bring an end to the Whitehall-led, one-size-fits-all approach.
Yorkshire sees continuing fall in insolvency-related activity and business start-ups
The rate of both new business starts-ups and insolvency-related activity dropped for the second consecutive month in Yorkshire and the Humber in May, while other regions saw sharp rises in insolvency-related activity, according to the latest research from R3, the UK’s insolvency and restructuring trade body.
Based on analysis of data provided by Creditsafe, the report shows a 10% decline in insolvency-related activity in the region last month, while new Yorkshire and Humber business start-ups also fell by 5%.
Business start-up rates dropped across every region of the UK, with Northern Ireland seeing the largest decline in new businesses, at 17% down, and the South East experiencing a fall of just 3%.
Insolvency-related activity, which includes liquidator and administrator appointments and creditors’ meetings, rose sharply in Scotland, where it was up by 30%, and the West Midlands (up 26%). The largest drop in insolvency-related activity was in the North West, which saw a 20% decrease.
Dave Broadbent, chair of R3 in Yorkshire and partner at Begbies Traynor in York and Teesside, said: “Businesses across Yorkshire and the Humber are under real and increasing pressure at the moment and it is no wonder that this is also continuing to suppress entrepreneurial activity and new business growth.
“Rising costs across the board, from energy to raw materials, combined with high interest rates and tighter consumer spending, are in many cases putting a significant strain on cash flow, especially for small and medium-sized firms.
“For smaller businesses in particular it can often take only a few late payments or a quiet couple of months to cause real concern. Many business owners are working incredibly hard just to stay afloat, and it’s understandable that it can feel overwhelming.
“But it’s always important to stress that business owners don’t have to face these challenges alone. If your business is starting to struggle financially, speak to a qualified insolvency or restructuring professional as early as possible. The sooner you get help, the more options you’ll have to turn things around.
“These are people who are vastly experienced in working with businesses in difficulty and, in many cases, they can help you find a way to stabilise things and start moving forward again. It’s not about giving up but about giving your business the best possible chance to recover – and reaching out early can make all the difference.”
Commercial door and roller shutter system service provider sold
A commercial door and roller shutter system maintenance and service business has been acquired by a national building services provider, in a deal supported by FRP Corporate Finance.
Ascot Doors (Service), founded in 2018, offers a fully self-delivered supply and install, service, maintenance and reactive response solution for the retail, industrial, commercial and emergency services sectors. Headquartered in Barnsley, it operates six depots nationwide and employs 59 people.
The business has been acquired by andwis – a network of 21 technical building and compliance service companies, backed by global private equity firm H.I.G Capital, that provides building maintenance services for a range of organisations across defence, healthcare, education, retail and hospitality.
FRP Corporate Finance’s Manchester-based team, led by partner Daniel Brecker and manager Amy Murphy, was appointed by the shareholders of Ascot Doors (Service), BREAL Group, to support the sale of Ascot Doors (Service) from within BREAL Capital (Ascot) Limited.
The FRP Corporate Finance team identified andwis as a suitable buyer, before managing negotiations, supporting on all aspects of the deal including completion mechanisms and project management of all transaction workstreams. The transaction marked a successful exit for BREAL Group, which has retained ownership over the other two entities within BREAL Capital (Ascot).
The deal will allow Ascot Doors (Service) to benefit from andwis’ vast network of businesses in the sector, provide a fuller range of technical and compliance service offerings to clients and collaborate with other entrance specialists like Meesons and Etron UK Limited to support its plans for growth. All Ascot Doors (Service) team members will join andwis.
Daniel Brecker, partner at FRP Corporate Finance, said: “The interest shown in this business demonstrates the appetite amongst trade buyers for companies that have built up an excellent reputation for service and a strong, recurring customer base.
“After extensive market research, we identified andwis as a great fit to help the business continue to develop, with its existing network in this sector providing a strong platform for Ascot Doors Service to continue to grow. I look forward to seeing both parties reap the rewards from this deal in the coming years.”
Paul Redfern, managing director of Ascot Doors Service, added: “We’re excited to begin this new chapter. While continuing to serve our clients with the same dedication, joining andwis allows us to offer a broader range of technical and compliance services.
“We appointed FRP Corporate Finance for its deep sector knowledge and the team certainly didn’t disappoint. In andwis, it has helped us to find a great partner to take the business forward and we’re grateful for the support Daniel and the team provided us throughout this sale.”
