Sheffield firm secures strategic home
Knight Frank’s Sheffield’s agency team, headed up by Peter Whiteley, has facilitated the strategic disposal of 10,000 sq ft of offices in the Meadowhall district.Located at the junction of Brightside Lane and Weedon Street, the 1980s-built Riverside Court complex, will become a new base for project leaders and associated contractors handling one of the city’s most important industrial developments. Purchased by Sheffield Forgemasters, teams working on the company’s new 13,000 tonne forging line and proposed new machining facility will take up residence in the two-storey building, relocating from the main site.
Peter Whiteley, partner and head of office at Knight Frank, said: “Sheffield Forgemasters is investing in the city of Sheffield through its recapitalisation project, bringing employment, commercial and property opportunities.
“It was important for the company to house the relevant staff on one site, also emphasising how crucial an office space with associated parking is in this type and scale of scheme.”
The engineering firm is undergoing a multi-million recapitalisation project which will see its work force almost double via on-site contractors, making space a premium at the 64 acre site.
Steve Marshall, Manufacturing Transformation Director at Sheffield Forgemasters, said: “The purchase of offices at Riverside Court offsets demands that the recapitalisation programme will place on existing facilities.
“Our employee count is more than 600 and contractors are set to number almost 500, so additional offices and car parking are essential to maintain productivity without any impact on our major recapitalisation works.”
Knight Frank acted for the owners of Riverside Court, while JLL represented Sheffield Forgemasters on its expansion in the Don Valley.
Lindum starts work on new homes for Lincoln City Council
Lindum Group has started work to convert an old garage site into 11 new affordable homes for City of Lincoln Council.
The project will bring a range of family properties, comprising two and three-bedroom homes, to Hermit Street. It is hoped the new homes will fill the gap for family homes within the area and create a sustainable community.
Procured through Pagabo’s Medium Works framework, each property will be council rented accommodation, equipped with air source heat pumps, two parking spaces, and an electric vehicle charging point.
At a groundbreaking ceremony hosted by City of Lincoln Council, Freddie Chambers, Lindum Group MD said: “As a local contractor with more than 400 employees based in and around Lincoln, it’s great to be involved in a scheme that will provide quality, affordable housing to this part of the city. It is particularly pleasing to see family homes being built within walking distance of the city centre, too.
“As well as carrying out construction, Lindum is working to bring additional value to the community. We are helping to bring forward a landscaping initiative covering Hermit Street, Portland Street, and a green space on Monson Street.
“We will also be looking to engage with the local Nest Nursery and Preschool, donating some logs for their outside area and hopefully getting the children to come on a visit at the site. As a local construction company, we will always look to prioritise improving the local communities in which we are working.”
Landmark leisure destination in Rotherham forges ahead as build programme enters final phase
Building work is on track at Forge Island in Rotherham as the flagship development enters the final months of construction ahead of opening to the public towards the end of summer 2024.
The new landmark destination, which will bring a much-needed family-friendly offer to Rotherham as part of Rotherham Council’s regeneration vision for the town centre, is being delivered in partnership with the Council, nationwide placemaker Muse and contractor Bowmer + Kirkland.
Work began on site in November 2022 and construction has continued at pace, with all topping out milestones due to be reached early next year on the cinema, Travelodge hotel and retail buildings – set to house a mix of independent eateries. Once construction completes at the end of spring, the tenants will fit out their premises ready for the scheme opening.
Local resident, 30-year-old Sam Clarkson, whose apartment overlooks Forge Island, said: “We’re on the seventh floor so we have a bird’s eye view of the development; all of a sudden it seems to have sprung up out of nowhere. I’m getting married next year and we have 400 guests coming, and having a trusted name like Travelodge, that everyone knows, on our doorstep is really great.
“Hopefully the development will have a domino effect and help put money back into other local businesses by bringing footfall into the town centre. It will give people more choice socially and bring more people in from other areas.”
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.
Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy Denise Lelliott said: “These developments form the main cornerstones of the council’s multi-million-pound investment in Rotherham’s future.
“A number of major milestones have been achieved at Forge Island over the last 12 months, including the installation of a new pedestrian bridge, which connects to the town centre and which nods to the town’s rich engineering heritage and is inspired by the world-famous Bailey Bridge designed by Rotherham-born civil engineer, Donald Bailey, during the Second World War.”
Raife Gale, Senior Development Manager at Muse, said: “Developing a transformational scheme of this scale always comes with its challenges – not least the difficulties of building on an ‘island’ surrounded by water – so the fact we’ve remained on track is a testament to the hard work of the whole project team.
“It’s fantastic to see the impact Forge Island has already made on the town centre skyline, and we can’t wait for the community to come and enjoy all that it has to offer when it opens next year.”
Construction work on the £47m Forge Island scheme – which was announced as 100% let in October 2022 – is led by contractor Bowmer + Kirkland, working alongside the wider project team which also includes Arup, Helm Consulting, Arcadis and re-form Landscape Architecture. The new pedestrian bridge was designed by FaulknerBrowne Architects.
2024 Business Predictions: Gav Winter, CEO of RapidSpike
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 Gav Winter, CEO of RapidSpike.
Everyday AI is revolutionising how we work by seamlessly integrating automation, data-driven decision-making, and personalised experiences into our personal and professional lives. This transformative technology streamlines tasks and empowers individuals with data-driven insights, enhancing their skills and efficiency across various industries. The first evolution of AI will not be AI taking our jobs; it will be those who can use AI effectively to do more people’s jobs and machine learning taking over logistics transportation.
For those who find themselves made redundant by AI, there is a need to reskill those people, so there is a considerable surge in the technology educational markets, especially in deprived areas. The drivers can become technicians for the new logistics sector, and those who found themselves out of a role will be reskilled to help create more AI integration; this is where we provide the basic universal income in the first instance to allow some of those people to follow a passion rather than a vocation.
Moving onto a subject closer to RapidSpike, changes in E-commerce and Online will be exciting. The future of websites themselves is poised for transformative change, focusing on immersive and interactive experiences, mobile-centric design for personalisation, and an unwavering commitment to enhanced data privacy and security. As technology evolves, websites will continue to adapt to meet users’ changing needs and expectations in an increasingly digital world.
Mobile-centric in the future doesn’t just mean your pocket device. It will be watches, glasses, TVs, intelligent walls and more. E-commerce platforms like Shopify and similar will provide technology to many leading brands, with less being done in-house on the basic structure and more 3rd party tools created to enhance small niche parts of the experience. Standing out will be about the online shopping user experience, zero tolerance for issues, expectation of speed and the product itself.
AR/VAR/AI combining to create a virtual fitting room. Advanced technology, including AI-driven virtual try-ons either on an avatar on a 3D model of yourself, haptic feedback for fabric feel, high-quality imagery, and AI-powered fit predictions and recommendations, will revolutionise the online fashion retail industry, offering immersive almost real world shopping experiences.
Voice commerce is gaining traction due to the growing popularity of voice-activated devices like smart speakers. E-commerce platforms must optimise their voice search capabilities to ensure customers can easily find and purchase products using voice commands. Creating voice-friendly shopping experiences will be essential to effectively tap into this emerging trend.
As we look to the future, sustainability is poised to take centre stage in the technology industry. Beyond addressing the environmental impact of devices and data centres, consumers and stakeholders will increasingly expect brands to take a comprehensive approach to minimising their carbon footprint. Online sustainability extends from managing energy consumption to optimising data centres and making eco-conscious website design choices. Keeping the per-user footprint low will be crucial, aligning technology with the growing global commitment to a sustainable future.
Croda’s Chief Financial Officer plans to move on
Croda’s Chief Financial Officer Louisa Burdett intends to leave the Snoath-based company next June to become Chief Financial Officer at Spirax-Sarco Engineering plc.
Anita Frew, Chair of Croda, said: “On behalf of the Board and all Croda colleagues, Steve Foots and I would like to thank Louisa for her contribution to the Company. Louisa will leave with our best wishes next summer and in the meantime, a search for her successor is under way.”
Croda confirms that trading is in line with previous guidance and Full Year 2023 Group adjusted profit before tax is still expected to be between £300m and £320m. Principally due to recent currency movements, notably in Argentina, PBT is expected to be towards the lower end of that range.
Supporting the vulnerable all adds up for audit specialists at RSM
Poverty-hit children will get help to keep warm this winter and bereaved families will be supported in coping with their loss thanks to the fundraising efforts of staff in the Hull office of global audit, tax and consulting advisers RSM UK.
The 100-strong team raised more than £25,000 from events ranging from food challenges to fitness training with Olympians and have handed it over to the Sailors’ Children’s Society, a charity founded in Hull over 200 years ago and now providing lifelines nationally to the families of seafarers in crisis; and Dove House Hospice, which is expanding its range of services. Natasha Barley, CEO of the Sailors’ Children’s Society, said: “What RSM did makes a massive difference. They raised a phenomenal amount of money and they had a lot of fun doing it. “The money will go towards our winter appeal, to provide winter coats and sturdy shoes for children across the country, which they would unfortunately not have without the support of the charity. If we have any extra it goes towards our winter heating grants as sadly there are a lot of children in this country who are cold and hungry.” Jonny Bottomley, Partnership Development Fundraiser for Dove House, added: “The money has come in at a really important time for us. The impact of Covid reduced our services right down to our bedded unit and we are working hard to reopen some of the provision that we had to close, and offer some new support. We have so far opened some outpatient services, community groups, and groups for child bereavement and general bereavement.” Andy Capes, office managing partner at RSM in Hull, said: “Our team in Hull, chose the regional charities to benefit as part of a nationwide fundraising effort. In total we raised £206,000 which was topped up by the firm to add another £100,000. Our local team took part in a charity race night, completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, hosted cake and bake events, launched a tuck shop, dressed up as celebrities and superheroes and even ran York marathon all in aid of two important charities.” Other businesses supported the campaign by donating prizes and four companies – Forrester Boyd, MKM, Rix Group and Williamsons Solicitors – paid for some of their staff to join an elite training session at the Village Hotel with Colin Jackson and Jamie Baulch, medal winners at the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and World and European outdoor and indoor championships. That event took place on the eve of the Society’s sportsman’s lunch, which broke all records for the charity by generating more than £75,000. All involved are aiming to set a new record in 2024. Andy said: “We teamed up with Forrester Boyd for the Olympic event and had a great time, so much so we’re planning on sponsoring next year’s event together. Not only did we have a lot of fun, but we raised a record amount of much-needed money, and set the bar high for next year’s fundraising efforts.”New chocolate factory plans to educate manufacturing engineers of the future
A new chocolate factory is to open in Barnsley to inspire and educate the next generation of UK manufacturing engineers.
The ‘JJA Snack’ facility is an initiative by South Yorkshire-based JJA Pack – a global supplier of industrial chocolate-handling equipment to the likes of Mondelez and Premier Foods. It’s teamed up with long-term partner Siemens to create the advanced, commercially-viable chocolate manufacturing line, which will give young people hands-on experience with the pioneering technologies used to manufacture chocolate bars.
Thousands of school kids will have the opportunity to learn about where chocolate comes from and how its harvested, with pupils able to design a bar and create it on the JJA Snack production line. A group from Outwood Academy Shafton will be among the first to visit the site in Barnsley.
Meanwhile, engineering students will be able to learn about data capture, streamlining manufacturing processes, and energy efficiency.
The Sheffield Steelers and Leeds Knights ice hockey teams are among JJA Snack’s first customers for branded bars, with the facility also set to manufacture chocolate under its own name.
The factory is set to open as Timothée Chalamet and Hugh Grant star in Christmas blockbuster release Wonka, which tells the story of how the beloved Roald Dahl character Willy Wonka become a world-famous chocolate maker.
Jamie Ashpole, director at JJA Snack, said: “It’s so important that we inspire more young people to pursue careers in manufacturing to enable the sector’s future success. Creating an opportunity for students of all ages to get a taste for modern, industrial chocolate-making, is our way of helping to address the UK’s current STEM skills gap.
“It’s exciting to bring this project forward in collaboration with Siemens, which provides a window for young talent to see how industries are advancing with the help of digital technologies.”
Andy Lane, business development manager at Siemens, said: “The modern chocolate factory may look worlds apart from any Roald Dahl creation. But they’re equally exciting – enabled by groundbreaking technologies, including data insight powered by artificial intelligence.
“Chocolate can be an extremely difficult substance to handle due to its inclination to set and become solid. This can damage equipment and bring down-time to production lines, causing big brands millions-of-pounds in losses a week.
“This is just one of the engineering challenges that budding Wonkas at JJA Snack will learn about – alongside how manufacturers are using smart digital technologies to spot and remedy problems before they occur.”
JJA Snack will use cloud-based AI solution Insights Hub to provide a comprehensive picture of the production line’s performance, which can be accessed both remotely and in situ. Through the power of AI, the data collected is used to avoid machine downtime by predicting and diagnosing issues remotely.
Grant funding will help to bring Hull’s Castle Buildings back into use
Castle Buildings LLP has been awarded more than £162,000 from Hull City Council’s government-backed fund towards bringing Castle Buildings back into use.
The Grade II listed building on Waterhouse Lane will be restored to offer city centre floor space, a nione-storey 150 room hotel, and public realm space. The funding represents just 8.2 per cent of a large-scale project expected to bring almost £2m of capital investment into Hull.
The grant award for Castle Buildings supports the wider site development, conceived and being delivered by Hull-based Wykeland Group, which includes reconstruction of the historic Earl de Grey public house building. Plans feature a nine-storey hotel with 150 bedrooms, as well as public realm works.
Councillor Paul Drake-Davis, the council’s portfolio holder for regeneration, said: “Castle Buildings is a much-loved heritage building in our city centre, but one which has stood empty for some time. Castle Buildings is part of the wider, large-scale project which, once completed, will bring further work and leisure opportunities to the city centre.”
Jonathan Stubbs, Development Director of Wykeland, said: “We’re pleased this project has received the funding to support its delivery. It recognises the importance of restoring and bringing back into use this landmark building and we anticipate work beginning in early 2024.
“This will be another significant step in Hull’s ongoing regeneration, which Wykeland Group is proud to be playing a major role in.”
Bradford hydrogen production facility secures government funding
A hydrogen production facility, that will deliver low carbon energy in the heart of Bradford, has won government funding to take the project forward.
Clean energy pioneers Hygen and N-Gen are working in partnership to deliver the Bradford Low Carbon Hydrogen (BLCH) production facility, which could achieve the decarbonisation equivalent of removing 800 diesel-fuelled buses a day from West Yorkshire roads.
The development will be built on the Northern Gas Network (NGN) Birkshall gas storage site in Bradford. It will deliver one of the UK’s largest low carbon hydrogen production facilities with the aim of using renewable energy to produce hydrogen.
Businesses and other users in West Yorkshire will be able to use the refuelling facilities, with distribution experts Ryze delivering hydrogen to industrial users across the region.
The project has been awarded money under the Hydrogen Production Business Model / Net Zero Hydrogen Fund.
Jamie Burns, Director of Hygen, said: “We are delighted that this project has been selected for government funding to take it to the next phase of development.
“This project will not just produce low carbon hydrogen for Bradford and the surrounding area, but will also provide a blueprint for how complex projects like this can be delivered, boosting the hydrogen and green economies of the UK.
“We very much hope that this project will be replicated in other cities across the UK to provide low carbon energy for generations to come.”
Gareth Mills, Managing Director at N-Gen, said: “This is an important and exciting project, not just for Bradford, but also for the wider area and the community that lives here, so we are delighted to now have financial backing from government to allow us to start work on the site.
“Bradford Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and we believe this facility will play an important role in helping the area deliver on its climate change ambitions.
“We know hydrogen can support decarbonising all energy types including transport, and producing green hydrogen is central to this, so we’re really excited to work with Hygen to deliver this development.”
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council, said: “It’s exciting to see Bradford at the forefront of embracing new energy solutions. Bradford has always been an innovator and we are delighted that we are now being recognised nationally in this space with Government investment in the scheme.”
This project is significant for Bradford’s future economic growth plans. It could be worth £900 million and create over 9,000 high-quality jobs by 2030.
Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho said: “Hydrogen presents a massive economic opportunity for the UK, unlocking over 12,000 jobs and up to £11 billion of investment by 2030.
“Today’s announcement represents the largest number of commercial scale green hydrogen production projects announced at once anywhere in Europe.
“These 11 major new hydrogen projects across the UK will create over 700 jobs and deliver new opportunities from Plymouth in England to Cromarty in Scotland.”
Hull logistics firm acquires European road freight specialist
Hull logistics firm Good Logistics has acquired European road freight specialist Inter-Ways.
Inter-Ways, which is a family-owned freight forwarding business based in Doncaster, focuses primarily on road freight to Eastern and Northern Europe.
Alan Platt, Divisional Managing Director of Good Logistics, said: “Like Good Logistics, Inter-Ways has a solid focus on superior customer service. With its extensive European road freight network developed over 20 years, it is a perfect fit with Good Logistics.
“The acquisition of Inter-Ways will amplify our skills and knowledge, which, combined with digital innovation, help set Good Logistics apart from other logistics providers. Inter-Ways has a great team of people who are committed to the business and its customers and I am delighted to welcome them to the Good Logistics team.”
Justyna Polom-Wilkinson, former Director and owner of Inter-Ways, said: “I started Inter-Ways in 2003 and, with the support and dedication of a great team of people, the business has flourished to become a trusted logistics provider to our customers.
“I am proud to see Inter-Ways begin a new chapter. With its size, scale and, of course, strong family values, choosing Good Logistics as Inter-Ways’ new owner was a great decision.”
Ian Baker, Branch Manager of Inter-Ways, said: “At Inter-Ways, we have truly put our customers at the heart of our operations for the past 20 years.
“Becoming part of Good Logistics creates an exciting new dynamic for both teams, as we integrate Inter-Ways’ specialist road freight knowledge with Good Logistics’ existing road freight specialists which, combined with digital innovation, is a cornerstone of its service delivery.”
Inter-Ways will continue to trade under its own brand for the foreseeable future and operate from its offices at Doncaster Finningley Airport.
