Leading engineering specialist Spencer Group is to create a new dock gate as part of a £1.9m project to preserve an historic vessel. The project to improve and repair Hull’s North End Shipyard is part of a wider £32m cultural regeneration project led by Hull City Council to celebrate the city’s rich maritime heritage. The North End Shipyard is set to become the new home for the country’s last remaining sidewinder trawler, the Arctic Corsair, which will form a new visitor attraction when in place. The city council has appointed Hull Esteem Consortium LEP as principal contractor for the shipyard project, with Spencer Group designing and delivering the vital lock gate element for the dry dock. Spencer Group will remove the existing gate, before installing the new 15m by 6m, 50 tonne steel replacement from the River Hull following berthing of the vessel. The gate will then be sealed in place by forming a reinforced concrete wall, providing a permanent home for the Arctic Corsair. Hull-based Spencer Group has already completed work to create a new home for another iconic vessel, the Spurn Lightship, as part of the Hull Maritime project. The company created a new wet berth for the lightship in Hull Marina earlier this year which is set to become another local maritime visitor attraction in the coming months. Neil Hewitt, Pre-Construction Project Manager for Spencer Group, said: “This is a really important project for us. “The Arctic Corsair is one of the flagship vessels of the city’s maritime history and we’re extremely proud to be playing our part in preserving it for future generations. Having previously been involved in constructing her berthing outside the Streetlife Museum over 20 years ago, the business is proud to play its part in settling her into her new home. “It means a lot to everyone at Spencer Group to deliver projects like this, particularly in our home city of Hull.” Spencer Group’s multi-disciplinary skillset makes it the ideal company to deliver the complex project, which is expected to be completed in the coming months. Mr Hewitt added: “We’ve completed the design and the new dock gate is currently being fabricated. “We will soon be undertaking the on-site works to accommodate the new gate and the preparatory works to accommodate the Arctic Corsair and with her in place, compete the final works to create her new permanent home and allow the people of Hull to enjoy her once again.” Spencer Group worked alongside principal contractor Hull Esteem Consortium LEP, and partners including the Environment Agency and other key stakeholders, throughout the design phase and will now move forward with plans for the delivery plan and execution of the phased approach. Gavin Barley, General Manager for Hull Esteem said: “This is a new and challenging scheme in many ways, but a great opportunity for Hull Esteem and Spencer Group to work in partnership to regenerate one of Hull’s most important maritime treasures. “We’re looking forward to being able to play our part in the much wider programme of works currently under development to create an exciting new maritime route that will guide visitors through the heart of the city.” Gillian Osgerby, Programme Director at Hull City Council, added: “The North End Shipyard is steeped in maritime history. This area will be revitalised as part of the exciting plans to create a new visitor attraction for our residents and visitors to the city. “To become the new home of the Arctic Corsair, a piece of technical work is needed to remove and replace the lock gate that connects the dry dock to the river Hull. “We are looking forward to working with Hull Esteem Limited and the Spencer Group over the coming months to deliver this critical element of work.”

Law graduate Matthew Lill has become the first Lindum Group employee to achieve a Level 7 qualification, the highest level of apprenticeship available and equivalent to a master’s degree – whilst also doing a full-time job.. He spent a year working as a paralegal and two as an apprentice solicitor while completing his training and passing his Solicitors Qualifying Exam. Matthew, who grew up in Lincoln and attended Priory City of Lincoln Academy before studying law at Nottingham Trent University, said: “After leaving school, I studied for an LLB Hons in Law, but to legally be able to refer to myself and practise as a solicitor, I needed to complete two years’ qualifying work experience and sit the SQE. “When I joined Lindum in 2021, the promise of training was part of my contract and I’m grateful for the support I’ve received with my studies. “I’ve learned so much on the job, too. I manage my own caseload of projects up to £20 million in value and get exposed to some great quality work by advising on a variety of different projects as well as assisting in defending and pursuing claims.”   During his course, Matthew worked under the guidance of Lindum’s Legal Services Manager Clifford Fearnley and our Apprentice Manager John Levey. Lindum is currently supporting 30 apprentices and trainees through a variety of courses, including site-based skills such and bricklaying and joinery as well as office-based roles, such as quantity surveying and business administration. Lindum Co-Chairman Freddie Chambers said: “I would like to congratulate Matt on completing his apprenticeship. It’s not easy to balance studying and full-time work but this is proof that it can be done if you have the right attitude and the right support. “Lindum is well known for its construction work, but this is a reminder that our industry includes so many different career paths. Not only do we employ people in practical and technical roles, but our business includes experts in law, finance, marketing, HR and more. “We are really pleased for Matt, whose hard work and commitment has paid off, and we’re delighted he is part of the Lindum team.”

The latest CBI forecast points to encouraging signs that the UK economy is on track to gradually pick up steam over 2024 and 2025. After a strong start to the year, momentum will continue with GDP growth in 2025 anticipated to reach 1.9%. The economy has struggled in recent years under the pressures of economic shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic and Ukraine war. GDP growth came in at only 0.1% over 2023, with the dual headwinds of high inflation and increased interest rates weighing on economic activity. Louise Hellem, CBI Chief Economist, said: “It’s encouraging to see that the outlook for the UK economy is improving after a difficult 2023. However, we cannot afford to be complacent about our progress going forward. To ensure longer-term, sustainable growth, we must tackle our ongoing productivity problem. “Our Business Manifesto sets out several policies to improve productivity and deliver prosperity through a positive vision for the UK economy. These include a cutting-edge trade and investment strategy, a Net Zero Investment Plan, and more support for firms to invest in AI – particularly where it can help in automation and super-charging productivity. “Now in the midst of a General Election, political parties have an opportunity to prioritise the economy and unlock long-term, sustainable growth by using their manifestos to set out measures that will support business investment and propel growth for the next decade and beyond.”  The CBI’s latest UK Economic Forecast shows that: 

• UK GDP growth is projected to rise to 1.0% in 2024.
• Momentum should continue in 2025, with GDP growth anticipated to reach 1.9% – broadly in line with the average pre-COVID growth rate (of 2.0% between 2010-19).
• Consumer spending is the main driver of growth, reflecting an improvement in households’ real incomes as inflation falls.
• Business investment is set to be weak in 2024 but will recover as GDP growth strengthens.
• However, productivity remains below its pre-COVID trend, signalling further action is needed to spur longer-term, sustainable growth.

Ben Giles has described Omniplex Learning as the “perfect fit” for his company Matobo following its sale. Matobo was founded by Ben and Cath Giles in 2012 and provides cyber security awareness training to the private and public sectors, having worked with clients which include the BBC, London Fire Brigade and around 20% of UK local authorities. A BAFTA award-winning filmmaker for work that featured Sir David Attenborough, Ben writes, edits and publishes York-based Matobo’s digital content used in its online training programme. Among its flagship courses is Cyber Ninjas, a unique series of e-learning modules which are certified by the National Cyber Security Centre. “We take immense pride in the quality of training we provide to our customers,” said Ben Giles. “Omniplex Learning was a perfect fit to build upon our work by supporting our customers and enhancing our training and services.” Omniplex, based in St Albans, has added Matobo to its existing suite of digital learning products and services which offers authoring tools, learning management systems, seamless digital adoption and expert in-house design, content and training services. “Our customers have identified cyber security as a critical and evolving challenge,” said Patrick Jocelyn, CEO of Omniplex Learning. “The costs of a successful cyber breach to a business are substantial, both financially and reputationally. “By integrating Matobo’s industry-leading courses into our portfolio, we are poised to provide our customers with digital learning in areas that are of the utmost importance to them. “We plan to expand our offerings to address the new security and GDPR challenges associated with AI and other threats. This will complement our Good e-Learning digital transformation courses which we acquired just over a year ago.” Omniplex Learning is backed by private equity investor LDC, with which it partnered in December 2020. Nathan Leah, KBS Corporate Associate Director, who advised on the sale, said: “I strongly believe Matobo will continue its success story in conjunction with Omniplex, who are a sophisticated and high calibre operator. I wish all parties the very best for the future. “Special thanks to Harriet Jones of Mackrell Solicitors for her diligence and collaboration throughout.”