AMRC forms partnership with Productive Machines
Productive Machines has joined the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) as a new member, with the aim of helping to increase productivity and reduce carbon emissions in manufacturing.
Productive Machines, a Software as a Service (SaaS) and AMRC spin-out company, specialises in AI-based technology designed to reduce waste and optimise machining processes through easy-to-use solutions replacing trial and error processes for big and small engineering companies.
The partnership between the AMRC and Productive Machines signifies a strategic alignment of expertise in the pursuit of precision engineering. As the newest Tier 2 member of the AMRC, Productive Machines brings its wealth of knowledge and disruptive technologies to the collaborative table, contributing significantly to the AMRC’s mission of driving net zero manufacturing.
Dr Erdem Ozturk, CEO of Productive Machines, expressed enthusiasm about joining the AMRC community. He said: “We have a special bond as a spin-out of the AMRC and we are thrilled to join this partnership and again become a part of the AMRC.
“This collaboration provides us with unique opportunities to promote techniques such as digital tap testing and to accelerate machine tool process optimisation contributing to shaping the future of advanced manufacturing.”
Matt Farnsworth, commercial director for the AMRC, said: “As a spin out from the AMRC’s machining dynamics research team, we are extremely proud of the success of Productive Machines and absolutely delighted to have them joining the AMRC’s industrial partner network.
“We feel they have unique technology differentiation within the field of machining dynamics optimisation and modelling that provides a huge opportunity for further collaboration within the AMRC network and perfectly compliments our other technology providing members in this space.”
Leeds’ 75Media acquires London-based iQ OOH
Leeds’ 75Media has acquired London-based iQ OOH, making it one of the fastest-growing out-of-home roadside networks in the UK.
75Media has incorporated iQ’s 81 digital panels into its own portfolio and all of its employees, including iQ founders Tim de Monte and David Peters, will transition into the newly expanded organisation.
iQ was founded in 2021, by De Monte and Peters, both former directors at Global. Specialising in digital billboards, the deal will see 75Media almost double its current offering of digital large format roadside locations.
The company will now operate over 200 digital billboards in a range of large and ultra large formats across the UK and moves the business towards its vision of becoming the number one roadside OOH network.
Alongside a growing portfolio of 300 large format classic paper billboards, 75Media now has over 500 sites spanning the UK, from Aberdeen in the North to Bournemouth in the South.
Paul Inman, Managing Director at 75Media, said: “We’re very excited to be welcoming Tim, David and the iQ team to 75Media. With their impressive expertise in the industry, and their track record working with the agency sector, it makes perfect strategic sense to bring iQ into the 75Media fold, as our skills, specialisms and sites ideally complement each other.
“This deal is significant as it firmly places 75Media within the top six OOH networks in the UK, and we don’t intend to stop there. Given where we started three years ago, we’ve worked hard to grow in a way that is sustainable, doesn’t compromise our levels of service, and drives significant value for our investors.
“We welcome working with businesses directly as well as with agencies, and that is demonstrated by our mission to become the number one network for brands in the UK.
“For us, that means high quality sites, strong customer service, supporting clients with planning and measurement and generally making the case for OOH as a hugely effective advertising medium for brands of all types. Bringing iQ on board takes us one step further on that journey.”
Tim de Monte added: “We can see the strength that combining our businesses will bring and look forward to connecting the teams together. Overall, we’re tremendously excited about the proposition we’re evolving in the market and I look forward to bringing an increasingly strong offering to our specialists and agencies.”
75Media now employs 35 people, with its HQ in Leeds and colleagues based in major cities across the UK.
East Yorkshire gets £4.3m to continue skills bootcamps
Skills Bootcamps will continue in Hull and East Yorkshire thanks to funding of £4.3m from government to support 1,603 individuals across different sectors.
Hull Training and Adult Education, leading and managing the programme, will work with employers and training providers to support local people to train up to better jobs in growing business sectors such as digital, transport and green skills.
Cllr Linda Tock, Hull City Council’s portfolio holder for Hull Training, said: “This funding from the government allows us to continue our successful Skills Bootcamps programme.
“We want to help people gain the skills they need to meet the challenges of tomorrow and we can achieve this by working with training providers and businesses across Hull and East Yorkshire.
“A skilled workforce is a productive workforce and it is only through giving them the relevant skills, training and support, that they can play their part in driving forward the Hull and East Yorkshire economy.”
As well as supporting the council’s priority of in-work progression by improving skills and opportunities, it also ties in with Hull and East Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership’s Economic Growth Workforce Wellbeing Strategy.
James Newman, chair of HEY LEP, added: “This is an ambitious programme which will provide the higher-level skills needed for our region to become a stronger economy. We are delighted this funding has been secured for Hull and East Yorkshire.”
Skills Bootcamps provide flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, giving those who take part the opportunity to build up sector-specific skills and fast track to interview with a local employer or acquire new skills to help their existing employer’s growth ambitions.
North Yorkshire pilot project aims to get businesses ready for investment
The York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub and Lifted Ventures have launched the ‘North Yorkshire Stars’ pilot project, an initiative aimed at making start-ups and early-stage businesses ready for investment.
Offering a pathway to pitch ideas and attract angel investment, the programme is a fully-funded 12-hour support initiative, with in-person and virtual events and workshops. Open to all sectors, the pilot project will support diversity and founders from all backgrounds.
Lifted Ventures, Co-Founded by Helen Oldham and Jordan Dargue, exists to increase the flow of early-stage capital for diverse founders outside London.
Helen Oldham said: “As ‘North Yorkshire Stars’ takes flight, we want to ensure that every business owner, with their unique vision and background, has a place to shine and thrive.”
Lifted Ventures will guide participants through the process of making their businesses investment ready. This includes specialist advice and finishes with in a unique opportunity to pitch to seasoned investors.
The comprehensive programme covers several key aspects for investment readiness. These include developing business plans, exploring options for funding, preparing financial projections, legal considerations, support structures, and governance.
Participants will create a winning elevator pitch and their own investor ‘pitch deck’. One-to-one coaching sessions will help refine this and prepare for investor meetings. The programme concludes with the opportunity to present to a panel of angel investors, featuring Q&A sessions and valuable feedback.
The overall goals of the project include introducing businesses to local investors, directly preparing them for investment, and boosting angel investment in North Yorkshire.
Simon Middleton, Delivery Manager for the Growth Hub, said: “I’m really pleased to be working with Lifted Ventures to deliver this first of its kind programme in North Yorkshire. We look forward to hearing from business owners when application open at the end of this month.”
Year will see increase in equity release schemes, says Legal and General
Legal and General predicts a year of renewed interest in equity release schemes and stabilisation of the property market.
A survey by Legal & General Home Finance shows that home improvements continued to be the main reason new equity release customers took out a lifetime mortgage last year – accounting for more than half of the new arrangements.
This includes adaptations to make sure a property remains suitable into retirement, alongside other types of home improvements. Analysis of English Housing Survey data by the Centre for Ageing Better suggests that 91% of homes across the country do not provide basic accessibility features, which presents particular challenges as people age.
Customers taking additional drawdowns, however, were more likely to use the value from within their homes to help supplement their income.
Craig Brown, CEO at Legal and General Home Finance, said: “Property wealth can be a valuable asset, and looking at the new customs who came to us last year we can se that home improvements continue to be the most popular use of equity release, helping people to improve rather than move.”
The company anticipates a renewed interest in lifetime mortgages as customers reconsider using property wealth as the market likely stabilises. Mr Brown added: “It’s worth bearing in mind that house prices are still significantly higher than pre-pandemic figures – up 18% up from the end of 2019 – so property still represents an important asset which homeowners are increasingly likely to draw on.
British Steel invests £10m in rail stocking facility at Scunthorpe
Stocks of rail for use by Network Rail currently held around the country are to be brought together in one central service centre, being built at a cost of £10m in Scunthorpe.
When complete this summer, the facility will contain about 25,000 tonnes of 108-metre long rails from which Network Rail can be supplied.
The investment is part of the company’s strategy to support the supply of rails for Network Rail, ensuring there is rail stock ready, as and when required, for its supply chain.
Rails stocked in the new facility will all have undergone the testing and QA checks so it can be sent out at once, or welded into 216m lengths.
All civils were are complete, and the main towers and gantry sections are currently being erected.
Future works include the installation of the hoist and permanent magnet systems, including electrical installation and integration, which will be used to lift and load the rails in packs of four in and out of individual rail pens..
Council fears Lincolnshire pylon plans will disfigure countryside and harm visitor economy
National Grid’s plans to install new overhead cabling on pylons through Lincolnshire between Grimsby and Wisbech in Cambridgeshire have shocked Lincolnshire councillors, who have pledged to oppose the plans.
They say the ‘Great Grid Upgrade’ won’t be great for Lincolnshire’s visitor economy as the proposed pylons, substations and overhead cables would ‘carve up the landscape’, and point out that they have no power to grant or refuse permission because the plans are deemed a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project.
Cllr Colin Davie, executive councillor for economic development, environment and planning, said: “Alongside our seaside resort towns, a huge part of our coastal charm is the miles of unspoilt nature and beaches that make up the east of Lincolnshire. There are a string of nature reserves along the east coast, not to mention the Lincolnshire Wolds, the beauty of which would be severely impacted by these unsightly pylons.
“I understand the need for infrastructure to connect new sources of renewable energy to the grid. However, elsewhere in the country, National Grid’s plans involve burying these cables under the ground or under the sea; why can’t that be done in Lincolnshire too?
“And this isn’t power being brought in to supply Lincolnshire’s needs, necessarily. This wall of wires and pylons is ostensibly to take power down to London and the south east.
“We refuse to let Lincolnshire be seen as a place to dump unwanted infrastructure projects. But as these pylon plans are classed as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, permission won’t be determined locally.
“The council, as a statutory consultee, will be sure to make our views on the proposals clear to the relevant Secretary of State who will make the final decision to grant consent or not.”
New letting for Sheffield’s Heart of the City
Another new letting has been announced for Heart of the City – the flagship city centre development scheme led by Sheffield City Council and their Strategic Development Partner, Queensberry.
Independent fashion retailer, The Cream Store, is set to open a 3,000 sq ft flagship shop on the ground floor of Burgess House – positioned on the corner of Charles Street and Cross Burgess Street, fronting the evolving Five Ways junction.
With fit-out aiming to be complete this Spring, the store, which also boasts a raised mezzanine, will stock contemporary clothing and lifestyle accessories for both men and women. Premium brands – which are regularly refreshed and rotated – include the popular Carhartt WIP, Fred Perry, Edwin, Nudie Jeans Co, Gramicci, and many more.
It will be The Cream Store’s second dedicated shop in the UK following the long-term success of the company’s Nuneaton store, which opened in 2005.
Like Nuneaton, the store will also house its acclaimed ‘Sneaker Treat’ service, offering customers a range of sustainable cleaning and restoration solutions to bring their favourite trainers back to life.
Manish Patel, Director of The Cream Store, said: “We have chosen Sheffield for our next venture as it’s a fantastic city with a vibrant and diverse culture. We feel that there is a great opportunity to provide the local community with a ‘go to’ place to shop for quality, durable fashion.
“Customer service is at the heart of everything we do. We welcome and enjoy talking to our customers, sharing our advice and our passion. The store will offer a relaxed, ambient atmosphere for our customers to dwell and view our latest collections.
“It’s all about offering a great accessible experience. Our customer-first approach has allowed us to maintain a loyal customer base over the last two decades and we’re exciting to build something similar in Sheffield.
“We can’t wait to open our doors in the Spring.”
Cllr Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “We are thrilled to welcome The Cream Store to Heart of the City. It’s another significant addition to the scheme’s growing fashion offer and builds on the likes of Weekday, Monki, and the recently signed Fjällräven and Yards Store.
“This is going to be a huge year for Heart of the City and the wider city centre, with the Cambridge Street Collective food hall, Leah’s Yard and Bethel Chapel all set to open in the coming months.”
Alex Hyams, Senior Asset & Leasing Manager at Queensberry, added: “The Cream Store is a contemporary independent menswear retailer, which epitomises the best of modern-day retail, housing premium brands in a clean and smart environment. This letting complements the emerging retailer line-up very well and continues to elevate the quality of the shopping experience in Sheffield city centre.”
Plans to transform former Tramways WMC site in York approved
Oakgate Group has secured planning permission to regenerate the former Tramways Working Men’s Club in York into 35 new homes, with linked improvements to the adjacent park where Dick Turpin’s grave is located.
City of York Council granted planning approval for the club site on Mill Street in York which closed in 2018, when it became commercially unviable and was sold by its members to Oakgate Group, part of the Caddick group of companies.
A thorough consultation was undertaken and various changes were made to the designs, in collaboration with the Council and other stakeholders. These changes included reducing the height and massing of the proposed building and amending the design. The new development has been named St George’s Terrace.
Richard France, Managing Director of Oakgate Group, said: “It’s great news that Councillors have recognised the benefits that these proposals will bring and approved the plans.
“Our proposals will replace an unattractive building to provide high quality new homes and will also bring major improvements to the vital green space, the Rest Gardens next to it – giving the grave of Dick Turpin the presence and profile it warrants, whilst delivering better amenities for the local residents.”
Work on the site is expected to start later this year.
Forge Island leisure destination celebrates final topping out milestone
Rotherham’s transformative Forge Island leisure-led scheme is coming to fruition with a formal ceremony to mark the final ‘topping out’ milestone held on site this week.
The hotel and cinema building structures have now been completed and ‘topped out’ at the landmark destination. This is a key construction milestone for the flagship town centre scheme, which is being delivered on schedule in partnership with Rotherham Council, nationwide placemaker Muse and contractor, Bowmer + Kirkland.
Set to open to the public towards the end of summer 2024, Forge Island will include an 8-screen boutique cinema, delivered by The Arc, alongside a 69-room Travelodge Hotel. All commercial space has already been let with six independent restaurants confirmed including Sakku Samba, The Rustic Pizza Co and Estabulo. This will all be set within attractive and accessible public spaces, designed by re-form Landscape Architecture.
Together with Rotherham Markets, the improvements are a key part of Rotherham Council’s large-scale regeneration plans aimed at breathing new life into the heart of the borough.
Councillor Chris Read, Leader of Rotherham Council, said: “It’s just over a year since we broke ground and here we are topping out these amazing buildings with more exciting milestones to come. Forge Island is the single biggest investment in our town centre for decades and it’s successfully transforming a disused retail site into a landmark family-friendly destination we can all enjoy and be proud to have on our doorstep.”
Raife Gale, Senior Development Manager at Muse, added: “We’re thrilled to have reached this significant and very visual milestone that shows just how far this scheme has progressed over recent months. We have been working closely in partnership with the Council to create something special for the people of Rotherham and this will undoubtedly help to bring families into the town centre and enjoy it as a leisure destination once again.”
The Arc Cinema will be Rotherham’s first movie theatre in more than 30 years and is a major part of the Forge Island’s family-friendly offer.
Brian Gilligan, Director of The Arc Cinema, who attended the topping out, said: “We’re very excited to open on Forge Island later this year and it’s fantastic to be here today and see our cinema taking shape. The Arc Cinema is known for their top-class facilities and we’re proud to say that the new location at Forge Island will be no exception.
“We also place a strong emphasis on building personal connections within the community – which includes recruiting locally – and our aim is to create a meaningful place that belongs to the people of Rotherham just as much as it belongs to us.”
Tony O’Brien, Travelodge, UK Development Director, added: “We can’t wait to open our new hotel later this year and it’s fantastic to witness this significant milestone in development. Rotherham is growing at pace and has one of the fastest growing economies in Yorkshire. Our 69-room Travelodge hotel will also have an on-site restaurant and car parking.
“With the railway station, the town centre amenities and Rotherham United’s AESSEAL New York Stadium within an easy walk, the Travelodge will be ideally located for business and leisure guests. This ground-breaking scheme is an excellent, new leisure destination that I’m sure will be of great benefit to the Rotherham community and visitors to the area for many years to come.”
Now that the external structures have completed, work will continue on the building facades ahead of the fit out of the independent food and beverage outlets, hotel and cinema complex in the spring and final works to the new public realm. The wider project team also includes Arup, Helm Consulting and Arcadis, with a new pedestrian bridge designed by FaulknerBrowns Architects.
