Business Engagement Board members back devolution plans

Stuart Pearcey
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Business Engagement Board members back devolution plans
Business and council leaders from Hull and the East Riding have met to discuss  devolution. Hull City Council leader Mike Ross said “It was great to be able to discuss devolution and the proposals with the Business Engagement Board. Jobs, skills and training are important aspects of our deal and important to the businesspeople and residents of Hull and East Yorkshire alike. “The board members have given their backing to the proposals, which is fantastic and shows that the council has negotiated a good deal for Hull and East Yorkshire. “They have shown their support, but it is now over to the people of the region to have their say. The consultation is live and we want to hear from you now.” With Coun Ross at the Board meeting chaired by Arco chair Thomas Martin were East Riding of Yorkshire Council leader Anne Handley, Dominic Gibbons, MD of the Wykeland Group, Anita Pace of Pace Communications, Tim Rix of the Rix Shipping Company and Hull & East Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership chair James Newman. The specially convened meeting of the board was held to discuss the devolution proposal for Hull and East Yorkshire and saw the BEB come out in favour of what is on offer.  

Brighouse-based international food firm names new MD

Stuart Pearcey
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Brighouse-based international food firm names new MD

Brighouse-based ingredients company Eurostar Commodities has appointed Jason Bull as MD.

He has worked in the business for more than 20 years, and has been instrumental in tripling the size of the business to a £15m turnover worldwide operation and with the UK’s most trusted and well-known food brands.

The compoany’s founder was Jason’s father Phillip, who established the company in 1994 and will become Chairman. The business has also made senior appointments to international logistics, purchasing, marketing and sales bolstering the team to 23 people in the UK, with a large network of global partners.

Jason has pioneered the company’s technical development creating new products, brands and creating the award-winning Gluten Free Chapati flour range. Sales of the range have more than doubled on the same period as last year (2022 – 2023). He has also shaped global infrastructure enabling Eurostar’s global network of food producers to supply Britain’s leading brands. He has spearheaded the companies’ role as an Export Trade Champion for the Government’s Department of Business and Trade, and launched the UK’s first Clean Label production facility.

He sad: “I am excited to be leading the business into this next chapter. We have achieved successful growth, beyond our highest expectations in a challenging global economy. I have ambitious plans for continued growth, product development and international supply of high-quality foods. I am most proud of our market leading share in the sushi rice category and the development of our high-quality gluten free flours which have revolutionised the market. We have a fantastic team who are the best in the business and together we deliver a significant and consistent service to the UK food industry.”

Jason’s initial plans for 2024 include expansion into a triple-sized factory facility; increased capacity in purchasing and logistics; several new food brands; increased gluten free product development; creation of new consumer brands in emerging farming sectors for sustainability; and an increased presence in UK, Northern European and Middle Eastern retail and foodservice as well as physical expansion into Europe.

Pharmacists offered mental health training from University of Bradford

Stuart Pearcey
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Pharmacists offered mental health training from University of Bradford

An NHS England-funded project delivering mental health training to pharmacists working in community mental health teams across the country has reopened for applications.

The programme represents a significant achievement for the University of Bradford, which is the only university in England delivering this form of specialist training, which helps pharmacists with the skills they need to best support patients with severe mental illness. The Specialist Mental Health Pharmacist Training Pathway was developed in 2021/22 thanks to funding from Health Education England, which has since been absorbed into NHS England. University of Bradford Assistant Professor Diane Webb, who leads the project, said: “This is a real achievement for the University of Bradford, because before this programme, for the last 20 years, there was only one other university providing recognised specialist mental health training. We’re delighted we have been recommissioned to continue delivering this pathway. It really does put Bradford on the map and shows the quality of training we are able to provide at a national level.”

Gainsborough gets further industrial park

Stuart Pearcey
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Gainsborough gets further industrial park
Contractor Stirlin has completed a further industrial park, with ten light industrial units which it hopes will offer the basis for job creation in Gainsborough. Wharton Place is in a strategic location on Foxby Lane, beside Lincolnshire County Council’s Mercury House Business Centre, which Stirling says makes it an ideal hub for businesses looking for a well-connected base in Gainsborough. It’s the third commercial park delivered by Stirlin in the area, following the success of Stirlin Place and Willoughton Place. Tony Lawton, MD of Stirlin, says “We’re thrilled to have completed Wharton Place Business Park, which not only adds to our portfolio of successful projects, but also responds to the continued demand for modern, cost-effective industrial spaces in the local area. Our investment in Gainsborough is a testament to the town’s appeal as a thriving business community.”

Town Centre Securities strengthens Estates team

Tess Egginton
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Town Centre Securities strengthens Estates team

Property development and investment company, Town Centre Securities PLC (TCS), has made two key appointments.

Lynsey Clarke joins TCS as Asset Manager for the Merrion Centre in Leeds, the company’s single largest asset, bringing a wealth of experience as a Chartered Surveyor and Registered Valuer.

With a first-class honours’ degree in Business Property Management, Lynsey has demonstrated her commitment to delivering the highest standards throughout her career, spanning valuation, development, property management, landlord and tenant, and agency.

In her new role, Lynsey will play a pivotal role in supporting TCS’ experienced team in the further development of the Merrion Estate, which welcomed 8.9m internal visitors in 2023 along with an influx of new brands.

Victoria McLeod brings more than 20 years’ experience to her position as Area Operations Manager at TCS and will be overseeing key sites across the business’s extensive portfolio in both Leeds and Manchester.

With a proven track record, Victoria has played a key role in maintaining, progressing and growing business strategy across city regions and has been instrumental in developing partnerships, driving new business growth and overseeing various aspects of property management.

Craig Burrow, Group Property Director at TCS, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Lynsey and Victoria to the TCS family. Their extensive experience, dedication to excellence and proven track records align with our commitment to delivering outstanding results.

“Both bring valuable expertise to TCS and we look forward to their contributions in driving the success of our projects and further enhancing our reputation as a leader within the property industry.”

South Yorkshire reveals plans for new strategic investment

Stuart Pearcey
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South Yorkshire reveals plans for new strategic investment
Creation of a new wholly-owned, arms-length company called South Yorkshire Future Trams Limited, a new partnership with Homes England and greater infrastructure investment in South Yorkshire have been agreed by members of South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Board. South Yorkshire Future Trams will run the concession from March 2024, including investment in restoring and renewing the tram’s power lines and track, and the renewal of the trams themselves. Taken together, the three decisions will provide greater strategic investment to improve the economy and infrastructure in South Yorkshire, says Mayor Oliver Coppard. “We’ve always owned the tram, but for most of the last thirty years it’s been managed and run by Stagecoach. Bringing the tram back into public control is a down-payment on our ambitions for a different type of transport network in South Yorkshire; one that puts the needs of our communities first. “It does come with risks, but it is the right thing to do, because if we want to build a bigger, better economy, to make sure people have the opportunity to move about our region quickly and cheaply, to take traffic off our roads, then we need an effective, efficient mass transit network. Members approved plans to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the South Yorkshire Pension Authority to increase investment in the region, which will support existing business and new businesses. They also agreed in principle to enter into a Strategic Place Partnership with Homes England, which will attract further Government and private sector investment to build more homes. “If we want a bigger, better economy we need more long-term investment into South Yorkshire. I promised to work with South Yorkshire Pensions Authority to invest more of their money here in our region, and I’m pleased to say I’ve kept that promise,” continued Mayor Coppard. “But we also need investment in the bricks and mortar of our communities, so today we have also agreed to enter into a strategic place partnership with Homes England. That means we’ll be at the heart of how decisions are made in the critical area of housing for our region.”

2024 Business Predictions: Matthew Ridsdale, founder of Cannon PR

Tess Egginton
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2024 Business Predictions: Matthew Ridsdale, founder of Cannon PR
It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.  It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years. Here we speak to Matthew Ridsdale, founder of Cannon PR. AI was one of hot topics in the PR industry in 2023 and I expect to see more businesses embrace the technology as it matures and becomes more accessible during the next twelve months. With the prospect of offering many new possibilities and even helping to save time when it comes to crafting content, AI is something which can’t simply be ignored. However, whilst typing in a few terms can produce a string a of social media posts, blog entries, white papers and even press releases within a matter of seconds, there can be ethical and reputational risks in doing so. AI will undoubtedly play a greater role in shaping the way marketing and PR content is produced in the future. The challenge facing communications teams will be how the technology can be embraced both as a time-saving tool, whilst crucially maintaining the ability to convey authenticity and credibility. Creativity has always played a vital role in helping a story to resonate with its target audiences, especially when it comes to conveying complex or sensitive information. I’ve yet to meet a computer with a conscience and so I feel fairly confident that PR practitioners will continue to have the upper hand… for now. Looking ahead to the news agenda in 2024. I suspect there will be one subject that will dominate the headlines for much of the year: the prospect of a general election. Will it happen? Won’t it happen? Will it be early? Will the Prime Minister decide to wait until there is better news to share about the ailing UK economy? Depending on when the election is called, and if indeed the Prime Minister waits until December 2024 to send voters to the polls, it could end up being a talking point for much of the year. Whether Labour will to sweep to power with an emphatic victory akin to 1997, or the Conservatives defy all the current polls to secure another term, remains to be seen. As Harold Wilson once famously said, a week is a long time in politics and by the time Rishi Sunak takes us to the polls, there may be some very different issues at the forefront of all of our minds.

Property groups reveal merger plans to create business worth £214m

Tess Egginton
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0
Property groups reveal merger plans to create business worth £214m
Grantham-based Belvoir Group, the property, mortgage and franchise group, has unveiled merger plans with The Property Franchise Group (TPFG), with the aim of creating a leading property franchise business worth approximately £214.4m.

The combined group will benefit from increased scale with more than 930 property franchise locations, managing approximately 152,000 tenanted properties across the UK and will be expected to sell more than 28,000 properties per annum.

For the financial year ended 31 December 2022, TPFG and Belvoir together generated in excess of £60 million in combined revenue, with management service fees of approximately £27 million and adjusted EBITDA of approximately £22.5 million.

The combined group board will comprise, among others, Gareth Samples (TPFG Chief Executive Officer), David Raggett (TPFG Chief Financial Officer) and Michelle Brook (Belvoir executive director), with Paul Latham (TPFG chair) as the combined group’s chair.

Upon completion of the merger, Belvoir shareholders will hold approximately 48.25% and TPFG shareholders will hold approximately 51.75%.

Paul Latham, non-executive chairman of TPFG, said: “I am delighted to confirm that we have reached an agreement with the Belvoir board and major Belvoir shareholders on the merger with Belvoir. We believe that the merger represents a compelling opportunity for all shareholders.

“Belvoir brings further breadth through its nationwide network and a financial services business which will be complementary to our current offering. The merger will enable us to continue to grow in the sector and, ultimately, deliver greater value to shareholders of the combined group.”

Jon Di-Stefano, non-executive chairman of Belvoir, said: “The merger of Belvoir and TPFG combines two businesses with much in common, each supporting a network of entrepreneurial franchises, and will create one of the UK’s largest multi-brand lettings and estate agency groups combined with a growing financial services business.

“With their complementary geographic footprints providing both scale and diversification across a variety of high street and hybrid brands combined with high levels of recurring revenue, we feel sure that the combined group will provide a robust platform from which to grow.”

University of Hull launches London Study Centre

Stuart Pearcey
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0
University of Hull launches London Study Centre

The University of Hull has launched a London Study Centre, providing students with the opportunity to study on our outstanding Hull programmes whilst immersing themselves in the professional hub of the capital.

Situated in Bloomsbury, the Centre will initially offer a range of Business programmes, including MSc Business Management; MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management; and MSc Digital Marketing and Advertising. The University is collaborating with Cambridge Education Group to launch the Centre, which will see three intakes per year, with the first intake commencing in May 2024. The world-class programmes, developed by University of Hull academics, will be taught face to face and students will benefit from remarkable student support to ensure their personal success. Professor Dave Petley, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Hull, said: “This is an incredibly exciting time for the University of Hull. The London Study Centre will provide students the chance to study on leading academic programmes in the capital, whilst retaining the identity, heritage and standards of our wonderful University. “It will empower our students to develop the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in their chosen fields, whilst providing opportunities to engage with the local community and professional networks, ensuring they gain invaluable experience and connections. “The expertise and proven track record of Cambridge Education Group in providing high-quality education and support to students will be instrumental in making the London Study Centre a success.” With its central London location, students will have easy access to all the city has to offer, including world-class museums, theatres and restaurants. The Centre is equipped with modern facilities and technology, providing students with the ideal environment to learn and develop their skills. Brendan Webb, CEO, Commercial of Cambridge Education Group, said, “We are thrilled to be partnering with the University of Hull to bring their renowned academic programmes to the heart of London. This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission to provide students with access to exceptional education opportunities, equipping them with the skills they need to succeed in their careers.” The launch of the London Study Centre marks a significant step forward in the University of Hull and Cambridge Education Group’s internationalisation strategies. Both institutions are committed to providing students with global perspectives and the skills they need to excel in a rapidly changing world.

Metsä Group chooses Arup to design Goole’s tissue paper mill

Stuart Pearcey
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0
Metsä Group chooses Arup to design Goole’s tissue paper mill

Metsä Group has selected Arup as one of its partners to design its new tissue paper mill in Goole.

With the planned investment Metsä Group’s tissue paper business aims to replace almost half of imported essential tissue products and bring locally produced, sustainable tissue products to the UK, increasing the country’s self-sufficiency in this sector by 30%.

The planned facility will demonstrate the latest in sustainable production technology and will have the capacity to produce 240,000 tons of tissue paper, built in phases over the next decade. Once all necessary planning and permits have been achieved, and the final investment decision made, the completed mill will generate over 400 direct employment opportunities within the facility, along with the creation of thousands more jobs throughout the supply chain and the local economy. The planned new mill will support Metsä’s sustainability 2030 targets – for all products to be manufactured from fully fossil free raw materials and for all its mills, including the new Goole facility, to operate without the use of fossil fuels by 2030. Arup supported Metsä Group’s tissue paper business in identifying the proposed location – a 200-acre site in Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire in the Humber region.
Alan Jeffery, Technical Director, UK and Ireland, Metsä Group’s tissue paper business said “Goole is the perfect location for this proposed investment. The Humber region provides a crucial gateway to the whole of the UK and the region’s ambitions to bring cutting-edge green technology and jobs to the UK matches our ambitions in clean, sustainable manufacturing.” The Humber’s strategic location, industrial capabilities, and innovative businesses position the region well in the UK’s transition towards a green industrial revolution and achieving net zero emissions. Arup provides an integrated approach to decarbonisation and regeneration in the Humber, creating a blueprint approach for the region. Andy Pennington, Director and Liverpool Office Leader, Arup said: “We are delighted that Metsä Group’s tissue paper business will reap the benefit of Arup’s local knowledge in delivering the planned new facility in Goole, Yorkshire. Working with a forerunner in sustainable bioeconomy and circular economy such as Metsä Tissue aligns well with Arup values and we’re excited to drive forward sustainable development in manufacturing together.” Arup will provide Civil and Structural Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering and Landscape Architecture services as part of the design team for the planned new facility. Arup’s multi-disciplinary design team supported Metsä’s site search by undertaking site due diligence studies for the shortlisted locations and testing Metsä’s preferred layout masterplan against the constraints of each site.
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