Long-established electro-mechanical manufacturer secures grant to upgrade equipment
Preferred operator revealed for new events space in Sheffield
Yorkshire Water launches £406m mains renewal programme
Yorkshire Water is investing £406 million over five years to replace more than 1,000km of ageing water mains across the region. The project, the company’s largest infrastructure upgrade in two decades, will install durable plastic pipes to reduce leaks, supply disruptions, and bursts.
In the first year, £89 million will be spent replacing 238km of mains, with 211km scheduled for the second year. Priority areas include Kiveton Park, York, Sheffield, Sowerby Bridge, Harrogate, and Stannington, prone to frequent supply issues. Work will extend across Yorkshire, from South Yorkshire and the East Coast to North Lincolnshire, with York and North Yorkshire set to receive 43km and 90km of new mains by March 2026.
Yorkshire Water is coordinating with local authorities and utility providers to minimise disruption, using trenchless technology to avoid major roadworks. The initiative is part of the company’s broader £8.3 billion environmental investment, which includes £1.5 billion to reduce storm overflows, £360 million to prevent nutrient pollution, and £327 million for smart meter installations.
Huddersfield solvent recycling plant planned for 2028
Waste management company Indaver has proposed a £35 million solvent recycling facility at Syngenta’s manufacturing site in Huddersfield. The plant would process 15,000 tonnes of industrial waste annually, recovering acetonitrile (ACN), a solvent used in agricultural product manufacturing.
Construction would begin in 2026, with operations starting in 2028 if approved. The facility would create 16 new jobs and operate within a closed-loop system, ensuring contained and controlled recycling on-site. Direct pipelines would link Syngenta’s production facility to Indaver for efficient waste processing.
The project aligns with Syngenta’s sustainability goals by reducing waste, lowering carbon emissions, and minimising transport impact. It would be built on previously developed industrial land, supporting Huddersfield’s manufacturing sector while advancing circular economy principles.
Yorkshire firm becomes 2nd in UK to gain Bureau Veritas test facility approval
Santander accelerates digital shift with branch closures and job cuts
Santander is closing 95 UK branches as part of a broader shift toward digital banking, putting around 750 jobs at risk. The bank will also shorten operating hours at 36 locations and remove counters from 18 branches.
The decision follows a 63% rise in digital transactions since 2019, while in-branch usage has declined by 61%. After the closures, Santander will operate 349 branches, including 290 full-service locations and five work cafés.
The bank says 93% of the UK population will still be within 10 miles of a branch, though some closure dates remain unconfirmed.
South Yorkshire SMEs to gain access to £40m in new growth funds
The South Yorkshire Pensions Authority has launched two £20 million investment funds to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the region. The funds aim to address funding gaps and drive economic growth.
FW Capital will manage the South Yorkshire Debt Fund, offering loans of up to £2 million for businesses in Barnsley, Sheffield, Doncaster, and Rotherham. The funding can be used for working capital, equipment purchases, recruitment, marketing, and product development.
Foresight Group will oversee the South Yorkshire Growth Equity Fund, which will provide equity investments of up to £2 million. The fund will participate in larger funding rounds, co-investing up to £15 million alongside other Foresight funds.
Both funds are designed to help businesses scale, create high-quality jobs, and stimulate regional innovation.
Lincolnshire offers free business advice to struggling farmers
Lincolnshire County Council funds business advice sessions to support farmers facing financial and regulatory challenges. The initiative, part of the Lincolnshire Farm Support Programme, follows a £50,000 funding boost in December to help farming businesses plan for the future.
Farmers can access one-on-one advice or group workshops on business planning, cash flow management, diversification, and succession planning. Savills delivers the sessions, which are coordinated by the Business Lincolnshire Growth Hub.
The council cited concerns over rising costs from National Living Wage and National Insurance increases and the sudden closure of the government’s Sustainable Farming Initiative, which previously provided guaranteed income for environmental land management.
Lincoln council expansion plan to be debated amid local government shake-up
Lincoln City Council is set to discuss a proposal to expand its boundaries, merging with parts of West Lindsey and North Kesteven to form a new “Greater Lincoln” authority. The plan will be reviewed in emergency meetings this week ahead of the government’s deadline for local government reform proposals.
The proposed authority would incorporate Lincoln alongside several neighbouring wards, aligning with urban interests rather than the surrounding rural areas. The council argues this would preserve Lincoln’s historical self-governance while creating efficiencies.
The government is encouraging councils to consolidate into larger single-tier authorities, with a suggested population target of 500,000. Lincoln’s proposal, which includes three separate authorities for the region, would not meet this threshold but is projected to save between £4 million and £26 million annually, with an estimated one-off transition cost of £15 million.
The council will submit its initial proposal to the government this week, with final plans due in November.
Streets Chartered Accountants covers payroll and HR updates, company vehicle changes, payroll outsourcing, and more in new news roundup
