Sandicliffe has bought the former Charles Warner site on Lincoln’s Outer Circle Road for an undisclosed sum.
However, agents Eddison agent said it was inviting offers around £2.5 million for the whole complex, including the automotive sales and servicing buildings, offices and ancillary properties, totalling 43,210 sq ft.
Will Wall, the Eddisons Director who led the agency’s deal, said the location saw the dealership set up in a prime position. “This is the location in which to be in Lincoln in terms of the commercial and domestic motor sales and wider automotive trade for the city and the wider area.
“Not only because it is where the full range of mainstream marques are represented – making it an established, high profile, one-stop style location for vehicle buyers and owners – but also as it’s a business district of the city which will see significant benefits through access to a wider regional reach with upgrade of the Lincoln Eastern bypass.”
In confirming the attractiveness of the site as an ‘oven ready’ facility to move in to, Tom Barton, Director of family-run Sandicliffe, added: “The site also allows the continuation of the MG brand in Lincolnshire. Additionally, exciting brands, such as the commercial vehicle marque Maxus, will be added to the site over the coming months.
“Once the refurbishment works are complete, then any surplus space within the site may be available to let on a short-term basis.
Roger and Giles Davis at Geo Hallam & Sons and Browne Jacobson acted for Sandicliffe in the acquisition.
Development of lorry parks at multiple locations throughout our region feature in a raft of grants being introduced in a £14m nationwide scheme to enhance efficiency and working conditions in the haulage industry.
Funds are being given to enhance parking and driver welfare facilities throughout Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, and Derbyshire including at Immingham, Stallinborough, Ulceby, Colsterworth on the A1, Newark, Sutterton, Bardon in Leicestershire, and numerous Moto locations amongst other.
it’s also intended that more green e-cargo bikes will deliver parcels to doorsteps and that better truckstops will help relieve local congestion, thanks to efforts from both government and industry to drive innovation in freight and improve working conditions.
Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood revealed the 23 successful applicants of up to £4.5 million from the government to improve truckstops and working conditions for lorry drivers.
The investment will also help build better dining, changing and rest facilities, as well as new CCTV and secure fencing to boost welfare and security for lorry drivers.
The funding is from the third year of the HGV parking and driver welfare grant scheme, which will come in addition to £8 million from industry, for a total funding boost of £12.5 million to improve truckstops. This investment comes on top of £1.8 million from the government for 10 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to trial new groundbreaking technology for decarbonising freight and driving innovation in the sector.
Ideas that will become reality include TUAL working with Wincanton to trial high-performance powerbanks for electric lorries, and Innervated Vehicle Engineering working in partnership with Asda to retrofit hydrogen power to small delivery vans.
This funding is the third tranche of the department’s Freight Innovation Fund Accelerator Programme, a £7 million government investment across 3 years to support the freight sector in deploying AI and automation to improve the way trains, lorries, vans, and ships carry parcels and goods.
Lilian Greenwood said: “Freight is a crucial engine of our economy and it is only right we do all we can to improve working conditions, pioneer innovation and drive sustainability across the industry.
“Our funding, combined with investment from the industry, will ensure lorry drivers can enjoy safer parking, a proper rest and a warm meal, while supporting UK businesses to harvest the best of technology to move freight faster, decarbonise our supply chain, and grow the economy for all.”
Government is introducing a new Employment Rights Bill which brings forward 28 individual employment reforms, from ending zero hours contracts and fire and rehire practices to establishing day one rights for paternity, parental and bereavement leave for millions of workers.
Its also intended to strengthen statutory sick pay, remove the lower earnings limit for all workers, cut out the waiting period before sick pay kicks in, and scrap the existing two-year qualifying period for protections from unfair dismissal.
Flexible working will be made the default where practical, and large employers will be required to create action plans to address gender pay gaps and support employees through the menopause, as well as strengthened protection against dismissal for pregnant women and new mothers.
The Government says getting the labour market moving again is essential to economic growth, with one in five UK businesses with more than 10 employees reporting staff shortages. It says flexibility, for workers and businesses alike, is key to answering this challenge and is at the heart of the legislation to upgrade the law to ensure it is fit for modern life and a modern economy.
It’s also intended to consult on a new statutory probation period for new hires, allowing for a proper assessment of an employee’s suitability to a role as well as reassuring employees that they have rights from day one, enabling businesses to take chances on hires while giving more people confidence to re-enter the job market or change careers, improving their living standards.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: “This is the biggest upgrade to rights at work for a generation, boosting pay and productivity with employment laws fit for a modern economy.
“The UK’s out-of-date employment laws are holding our country back and failing business and workers alike. Our plans to make work pay will deliver security in work as the foundation for boosting productivity and growing our economy to make working people better off and realise our potential.”
Brothers Richard and Graham Downs have moved to Barnsley to launch a digital innovation they’ve created.
Called AnchorVine, it’s an AI-powered digital platform targeted at business support agencies, accelerators, incubators, universities and colleges.
It aims to improve the efficiency of their programmes by bringing together all management and communication tools and automating essential routine tasks. Itincludes a 24/7 virtual business assistant to maintain focus on actions they need to take between meetings with their real-life advisor.
Richard and Graham developed their new platform into a commercial proposition through The Furnace business incubation programme delivered by Enterprising Barnsley at Barnsley’s Digital Media Centre. Undertaking that programme convinced them to move from Sheffield to DMC 01 and build their business in Barnsley – and Enterprising Barnsley, via its Launchpad programme for startups, has become one of the first organisations to adopt the AnchorVine platform.
Richard said: “The Furnace experience was pivotal in helping us to refine our MVP – Minimum Viable Product – and our sales pitch for AnchorVine and land our first customers.
“It was a no brainer decision for us to stay in Barnsley and be part of the ecosystem we’re now trying to help grow. We look forward to working with Enterprising Barnsley help make future business support programmes even more effective, as well as playing an active part in the business community.”
The brothers’ decision to rent office space at DMC 01 has been backed by a Tech Welcome Grant. Plus, as part of the Barnsley digital business community, they now have access to on-going support and workshops through Enterprising Barnsley and Launchpad Enterprising Barnsley group leader Ben Hawley said: “It’s been a pleasure to work with AnchorVine to help them bring their innovative business support tool to market through The Furnace incubator.
“We’re very pleased they’ve decided to stay on and make Barnsley their base as they pioneer their product with us, and promote it across South Yorkshire, the wider region and ultimately nationally as the go-to AI-enhanced digital tool to support business transformation.”
Two heritage and culturally significant attractions are set to expand their offer and attract even more visitors to the Lincolnshire Wolds following the approval of planning consent.
On 3rd October, on determining two separate applications with unanimous decisions, East Lindsey District Council’s planning committee granted planning permission and listed building consent for Alford Manor House and the grounds of Alford Windmill.
The consent marks a huge milestone for both projects which, once complete, will see new uses for each attraction, generating greater footfall into the town all year round, supporting the local economy, and safeguarding these heritage assets for future generations.
Both sites, along with Spilsby Sessions House, are part of the Lincolnshire Wolds: Culture and Heritage Programme. The ambitious regeneration scheme is benefitting from £8 million funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to regenerate the assets to secure their future.
The permission for Alford Manor House will realise a new permanent, flexible event space which will see the temporary marquee removed that has been in place since 2006. The new function room will allow the Manor House to provide event space for up to 100 people. The consent also includes minor works to the car park and construction of a canopy to store large pieces of machinery for the Rural Life Museum and workshop.
The consent for the Alford Windmill site includes a new visitor centre incorporating a café and shop, refurbishment of the Miller’s Cottage into a two-bed holiday accommodation, refurbishment of the Sail Store as an educational space, the pigsty to be converted into a children’s play area, refurbishment of the former shop to display Millwright tools, and landscaping throughout the site.
The approvals follow a period of public consultation, including local residents, Alford Town Council, Historic England, Natural England and Heritage Lincolnshire. The Council will continue to work alongside Lincolnshire County Council at Alford Windmill as the project develops.
Cllr Graham Marsh, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture at East Lindsey District Council, said: “I am delighted the Council’s planning committee has supported these ambitious plans which will help secure the future for these attractions.
“The Council is working collaboratively with Alford Manor House and Alford Windmill Trust as well as other partners to bring new uses and extend the visitor offer which is important for the local economy and to grow tourism opportunities in the Lincolnshire Wolds.
“These attractions hold so much historic value for local people as well as wider East Lindsey. A lot of work has gone on behind the scenes to get to the milestone of planning approval today and I look forward to seeing these projects being delivered further over the coming months.”
Cllr Adam Grist, Portfolio Holder for Market Towns at East Lindsey District Council, said: “Both Alford Manor House and Alford windmill are part of the fabric that makes Alford the historic market town that it is. I am therefore, delighted that these schemes have been given the go ahead to bring these plans to life.
“The plans offer great potential to really impact the tourism economy of the Lincolnshire Wolds and bring visitors and holidaymakers to Alford and the surrounding Wolds.
“These plans are hugely exciting and the benefits they bring will be far reaching for businesses and organisations in Alford and surrounding areas.”
William Silby from STEM Architects said: “We are pleased to see the planning officers and local councillors support the projects with a unanimous decision to approve both applications.
“It has been a pleasure working with the rest of the design team, ELDC and the trustees at both Alford Manor House and Windmill. We are looking forward to continuing with the next stages of both projects. In particular, it is fantastic that these schemes will support the ongoing viability of the Windmill and Manor House and protect these beautiful heritage assets for generations to come.”
A range of pre-construction work will now continue on both sites ready for work to start next year. A planning application for Spilsby Sessions House is due to be submitted later this year.
The latest in a line of mergers for the fast-growing practice Streets Chartered Accountants sees a coming together of two highly successful, pioneering tech powered firms, which focus on innovation in delivering assurance and financial management, especially for Fin Tech start-ups and scale-ups.
Streets, a top 40 UK professional service firm, has revealed that the boutique practice of Mitch Consulting Limited, which provides outsourced accounting and finance solutions centred around the use of cloud-based programmes and digital platforms, has merged with the firm’s Bristol practice Streets Steele, which has developed an industry leading virtual finance office service for clients running a fast moving, dynamic and rapidly growing business.
When asked about the merger, Mark Mitchell, co-founder of Mitch Consulting Limited, said: “With a background and career in the financial management of technology related businesses including some very large and well known companies, we founded Mitch Consulting in 2014, based on a clear understanding of the need to support start-up and scale-up enterprises. In particular we recognised that many such businesses could benefit from a CFO and finance team but couldn’t afford them.
“Through the use of a technology stack using the latest in accountancy and financial management software and more contemporary ways of working, we found we were able to provide an affordable and highly effective solution. An experienced team of highly qualified accountants with relevant industry experience has also ensured that we have been able to offer high end and specialist advice and support.
“For our practice to grow and as part of our own succession planning, we needed to consider the next steps for the business. We spent some time considering the options as well as potential firms to join up with. The decision was very much focused around a shared vision and appreciation of our business model, especially around the need to embrace technology and realise its benefits in terms of looking after and working with clients.
“With its established virtual finance office service and appetite and enthusiasm for innovation, we were delighted to enter into discussions and ultimately come together with Streets.
“We particularly like the opportunities that the merger offers for the continued growth of the business and the opportunities it offers existing and future team members. We also see the merger benefiting clients through their ability to access additional services, including specialist personal and business tax planning, specialist R&D tax reliefs, banking & finance and corporate law.”
Looking at what the merger means to Streets, the firm’s Managing Partner, Paul Tutin, said: “The merger of Mitch Consulting with Streets is one of five mergers we have completed in less than 6 months. This, the latest one, was particularly exciting as it has enabled us to build on our focus to drive innovation in the delivery and provision of service for our clients both now and in the future.
“We fully recognise the importance of embracing technology and the role it can play in meeting the need for effective and meaningful financial reporting and management for all businesses, especially those operating in the fast-moving Fin Tech sector.
“Having Mitch Consulting join us, along with our dedicated VFO team in Bristol, provides a real boost to our service offering and helps to set us apart from our competition. We are truly excited about the opportunities this merger provides and developing an industry leading service.
“This latest merger with Streets means that the practice now has 27 offices, over 60 Partners and directors, more than 350 members of staff and annualised fee income of more than £39 million.
“We are also currently in discussions with a number of firms around potential mergers, with hopefully a number of further announcements over the next few months.”
Streets Law, the firms dedicated corporate and commercial law offering led by Managing Director and Solicitor Adam Aisthorpe, undertook the legal work on behalf of Streets for the merger, including drafting the sale and purchase agreement and dealing with the due diligence process in collaboration with internal colleagues in the tax and audit teams at Streets.
The firm’s in house law team has now completed 10 mergers for Streets in the last 3 years, whilst at the same time advising the Streets client base on M&A transactions worth in excess of £250 million in that time. Streets Law also advises clients on business restructuring and refinancing transactions, MBOs, shareholders agreements and a variety of commercial contracts.
Ashton Legal, Norwich and Corporate and Commercial Solicitor Jasmine Allen acted on behalf of the sellers, Mark Mitchell and Jane Mitchell, on the sale of the practice to Streets.
Leeds-based omnichannel creative content agency Ride Shotgun has acquired PIX-US, a specialist CGI company based in North Carolina.
This follows the acquisition of Silicon Valley-based Volume Group in March, giving the agency a presence on both the East and West coasts of the US.
The deal enables Ride Shotgun to deliver all of its content capabilities (from photography and video production to CGI, AR/VR and immersive) on both sides of the Atlantic, for a global client base already including Intuit, Diageo, KAO, Tempur Sealy, HSBC and Amazon.
The addition of the PIX-US team sees the agency’s headcount reach 200 across the UK, US, EU and Asia, with revenues now over $20m.
PIX-US, a North American Computer Generated Image (CGI) Agency, has been creating photorealistic content for retail and consumer brands for over a decade. Ride Shotgun and PIX-US have worked together for a number of years and the acquisition combines their in-house teams with PIX’s extensive experience of the North American Market.
Mark Mallinder, CEO of Ride Shotgun, said: “The incredible team from Volume, who already have a strong track record of delivering technology driven solutions for their US clients, has now been strengthened by PIX-US. PIX has been producing stunning visual content for some great brands and we are really excited to add our expertise and support to their team.
“This is a great opportunity for us to replicate our success in the UK for the American market by offering strategy, production, and activation, through our customer centric approach. Volume and PIX already excel in these areas, and their integration into the wider Ride Shotgun business will add even further value to our clients.”
Stewart Fortune, MD, PIX-US, added: “Having known the team at Ride Shotgun for quite a few years this is the perfect opportunity for us to strengthen our current offering. We are already valued for our photorealistic CGI imagery and visualiser tools and we can now offer creative content strategy and activation as well as broader production solutions to better serve the needs of our customers.”
Joanna South, who joined Ride Shotgun from Volume in March, and is now SVP Ride Shotgun US, added: “We are looking forward to expanding further across North America with an end to end offer as a global marketing support partner.”
With all but two of the regions and nations showing a rise in levels of businesses start-ups between August and September, Yorkshire and the Humber saw the fourth greatest increase, according to the UK’s insolvency and restructuring trade body, R3.
The research from R3, which is based on an analysis of data provided by CreditSafe, showed that Yorkshire and the Humber recorded a 7.7% month-on-month uplift in new businesses, rising to a total of 4,235 new businesses in September – over 300 more start-ups than in August. In contrast, levels of new businesses in the region had decreased by 3.5% between July and August.
Last month’s more optimistic picture was reflected across much of the UK with ten of the 12 regions and nations seeing rises in new business numbers since August. The most marked increases were in Northern Ireland with a 14.2% rise, followed by West Midlands (up by 8.5%) and the South East (up by 8.3%).
However, both the East Midlands and Scotland experienced falls in levels of start-ups since August, with the latter seeing a drop of 0.8% in September and the former decreasing by 3.6%.
Looking at month-on-month changes to insolvency-related activity (which includes liquidator and administrator appointments and creditors’ meetings), there was also a mixed picture.
Yorkshire and the Humber was among four regions and nations which recorded a rise last month since the previous month – up by 16.6% with 246 businesses in the region now affected. Northern Ireland saw the largest hike (up by 109.1%) with the West Midlands (up by 2.9%) and Greater London (up by 1.5%) also experiencing rises.
Wales put in the strongest performances with a drop of 30.1%, closely followed by the North East (down by 26.3%) and Scotland (down by 26.1%), while the remaining five regions and nations also saw double-digit decreases.
Dave Broadbent, chair of R3 in Yorkshire and partner at Begbies Traynor in York and Teesside, said: “After the initial feel-good factor immediately following June’s general election, it appears that business confidence is once again declining and this is having a detrimental effect of the UK economy.
“With warnings of a tough budget at the end of the month, many businesses remain cautious although some economists are still predicting growth, albeit at a slower rate than in the first six months of the year.
“Given continued high interest rates and cost of living pressures as consumers face another winter of increased energy costs, it is encouraging to see so many entrepreneurs here in Yorkshire and the Humber, as well as in many other parts of the UK, launching new businesses.
“However, with levels of insolvency-related activity also growing in many of the regions and nations, it remains a difficult environment in which to trade. Once the Autumn Budget is behind us, it will be easier for businesses to plan, but cash flow is likely to remain an issue and we urge directors to seek professional advice at the first signs of spiralling financial problems.”
Broomfield South SILC (Specialist Including Learning Centre), an all-age special educational needs school serving south Leeds, has moved into a state-of-the-art building at the White Rose Business Park.
Broomfield South will be occupying a 9,000 sq ft former office suite on the ground floor of the refurbished ABC Building. It will accommodate 80 students and 30 staff members.
With the new facilities, Broomfield is relocating its Post-16 students, giving capacity this year to accept more students under the age of 16 to their Belle Isle site, helping to meet the increased demand for SEND placements.
Lizzie Chappell, Assistant Headteacher Personal Development, explained further why the school was moving its Post-16 pupils into the new building at Munroe K’s White Rose Park.
“There are a number of reasons why we have moved our Formal and Semi Formal Post 16 provision to White Rose. First, it’s an excellent destination, well situated close to local amenities, transport and within an exciting education and business hub.
“This has enabled us to create a bespoke provision within the space with communal areas that fit with the Post 16 curriculum delivery. We now have a high quality environment provision to meet the needs of the learners and is fit for purpose.
“We will now be in a better position for Post 16 young people to be Prepared for Adulthood. Our learners require opportunities, so they are not defined by their disabilities.
“By moving Post 16 into the heart of a thriving business park, there are opportunities such as work placements, delivery of pre-internship programmes, access to better transport links and real-world learning.
“In addition, we will be able to deliver qualifications we have previously not been able to deliver on our main site and support the 14-19 agenda across Leeds to reduce the NEET (Not in Education, Employment and or Training).
“I’d also add that this was a collaborative project including SENSAP, LCC and multiple contractors to get it over the finish line. Ollie Maloney (Monroe K) clearly made a commitment early on to ensure that we could meet the timeframes we were working to in our legal obligation to offer SEND placements.”
There will be an official opening of the new Broomfield School building in November.
Heather Roberts, Legal Director at Raworths, said: “We worked closely with Broomfield South SILC School as well as partners and collaborators including the landlord’s surveyors and lawyers, Leeds City Council’s planning and property departments, the Children and Families Directorate and the Department for Education to ensure the new premises were secured and delivered on time, enabling the school to complete the fit-out ready to welcome students for the new school year.
“This much-needed Post 16 provision at White Rose Park will offer even more young people with SEND an incredible opportunity to learn under the guidance of Kathryn Bryan, Lizzie Chappell and their brilliant team, equipping themselves with the skills and knowledge to gain independence and employment. Well done to everyone involved for getting this project over the line.”
Oliver Maloney, Property Manager at White Rose Park, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Broomfield SILC to the White Rose Park community. Our company’s core values of education, collaboration and innovation align perfectly with the school’s mission statement, making us proud to have supported the relocation of their post-16-19 provision.
“This partnership goes beyond a commercial transaction, as it will undoubtedly have a lasting positive impact on the young people’s lives attending school here at White Rose Park.
“I want to extend my sincere thanks to all the stakeholders who helped make this project a reality, including Broomfield SILC, Onyx Construction, KNG Building Services, BWF Consultancy, Eamon Fox at Knight Frank, and my colleagues at White Rose Park.
“Particular thanks must be extended to Marya McInnes, Senior Associate at Pennington Manches Cooper, for her hard work in ensuring the transaction was completed on time given the tight timescales we encountered to ensure swift occupation was achieved.”
Eamon Fox, partner and head of development at the Leeds office of Knight Frank, added: “This is one of the most important deals we will see this year, proving the concept of rethinking the boundaries between high school, college, university and career.
“The blurring of the lines in education includes creating new institutions, programs, and pathways to help students succeed in the modern world, evidently being achieved at White Rose Park where Academia and Big Business merge, aligned, feeding each other, within a new type of ecosystem.”
Roberlo UK – the specialists in the development, manufacture, and supply of coatings and repair solutions for the refinish aftermarket and industrial sectors – has expanded its footprint in the north of England, with a 6,004 sq ft industrial unit in Leeds.
Signing a 10-year lease with industrial property expert Towngate PLC, Roberlo’s new Leeds base is situated at Unit 3C of Airedale Industrial Estate, Hunslet.
With this strategic location, sitting just off Hunslet Road (A61) and the Hunslet Distributor Road, and 1.5 miles from Leeds city centre and junctions three and four of the M61 motorway, the property is ideally positioned to enhance Roberlo’s logistics and distribution capabilities – both across the region and on a national scale.
As well as a sizable warehouse area, the unit comprises ground and first floor ancillary office spaces. It has an eaves height of seven metres, a secure self-contained yard, male and female WCs, and a designated kitchen facility.
Albert Torrent, head of sales at Roberlo UK, said: “This new facility will provide the perfect platform to better serve our growing customer base in the north of England – providing quicker access to products and services, and supporting Roberlo’s ambitious growth plans within the UK market.
“Being in such close proximity to key transport links and arterial routes, we’re excited to see our supply chain operations become increasingly streamlined too, furthering our reputation for timely delivery and exceptional service, whatever the technical requirement.”
A family-run company, Roberlo was founded in Girona in 1968, importing products from Italy, for marketing in Spain. Through strategic internationalisation, the business has grown to be one of the leading European manufacturers of paints, repair solutions, and fixing products for the automotive, industrial, and construction sectors.
Roberlo launched the UK division as its third subsidiary in 1999. Since then, it has expanded to include a significant 20 subsidiaries, with a commercial presence in more than one hundred countries around the world.
Tom Lamb, property manager at Towngate PLC, said: “It is a real pleasure to welcome Roberlo UK to the Airedale Industrial Estate. With its prime location and surrounding network of flourishing business, I am confident Roberlo will be able to set up a highly successful operation from this site to further its already significant footprint.”
Towngate was represented by Hazel Cooper, associate director at Carter Tower in Leeds for this transaction. Meanwhile, Roberlo UK was represented by Alec Michael, partner at Michael Steel & Co.
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