North East Lincolnshire Councillors have agreed to release land to Associated British Ports including 28 acres of allocated development land at Stallingborough Interchange and two further small areas of land in NELC ownership.
Pioneer Business Park is a strand of the award winning South Humber Industrial Investment Programme which has so far seen the Myenergi and HETA facilities developed on the site, with other projects in the pipeline.
Other elements of SHIIP include a new link road between Immingham and Grimsby which has unlocked development land and improved connectivity between the ports, and two ecological mitigation sites, the first in Europe, created to offset the environmental impact of future developments and provide a safe haven for birds. These innovative interventions have proven to be a key part in attracting large scale investment to the area.
Cllr Philip Jackson, Leader of the Council, said: “The sale has realised the opportunity to see development accelerated at Pioneer Business Park at a pace which is likely to bring with it a variety of benefits, including additional investment, facilities and jobs locally.
“I’d like to thank ABP for coming to the table with the proposals, and for creating what will be one of the biggest single developments in the area in recent times.”
ABP has also been working with other landowners in the area to assemble a wider parcel of land to concentrate these operations in. The overall deal will see ABP investing significantly to expand its port operations around Immingham after the purchase of the freehold of 227.5 acres at Stallingborough Interchange.
The prominent site is earmarked for commercial port opportunities including automotive, bulk warehousing, distribution and logistics uses, advanced manufacturing, as well as green energy initiatives.
In a prime strategic location next to the A180 two miles from the Port of Immingham and six from the Port of Grimsby, the designated employment site is one of the largest of the original Enterprise Zones in the area and is key to future proofing the continued growth of ABP’s commercial business on the Humber.
Simon Bird, ABP’s Regional Director of the Humber, said: “This is an important milestone in the future growth of the Humber ports. It demonstrates the need for strategic investment in land to facilitate the continued growth of ABP and to maintain the Humber ports leading position in the UK, as well as significant investment in the region for jobs.
“As demand is expected to increase for energy generation, automotive storage, bulk warehousing, and storage and distribution uses our space constraints within our ports will increase. This additional land will ensure the delivery of state-of-the-art infrastructure, facilities, and technological innovation for new and existing customers.”
Greg Lacey, Head of Property – Humber, ABP said: “It’s always a challenge to bring forward a site of such significant scale and I’d like to personally thank NELC for all the investment in time and costs to get it to this stage. We now pick up the baton to bring to fruition our shared ambition to create a major UK port logistics development.
“This is a unique opportunity, assembled by ABP working collaboratively with NELC and three other landowners. The site is the largest development land parcel in such proximity to the ports, and of significant scale versus wider opportunities in the Yorkshire region. It is unlikely any opportunity of the same size will be coming to the market for some time. The sizeable investment we have made in this shows ABP is a key player in supporting the growth of commercial activities within the region.”
‘Hardest working personal injury solicitor’ in East of England promoted to partner
The largest law firm in Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire has promoted two home-grown lawyers to partner, increasing the support available to individuals suffering from catastrophic injuries and employers experiencing commercial fraud.
After a combined 32 years of experience practising law at Wilkin Chapman, Nick Shaw and James Kinnaird have been promoted to partners at the leading regional law firm.
Both men are credited by name in the recently launched UK Legal 500 2024 – a leading directory widely recognised as a de facto list of the best law firms.
In the rankings for 2023 and 2024, of which Wilkin Chapman is recognised in sixteen separate categories, Nick Shaw is described as “the hardest working personal injury solicitor in the East of England”. Similarly, they describe James Kinnaird as a “technically brilliant commercial litigation lawyer.”
Both solicitors joined Wilkin Chapman straight out of school and were fully supported by the firm throughout their part-time studies, while also working full-time roles, to qualify as chartered legal executives and ultimately become solicitors.
Nick Shaw joined Wilkin Chapman in 2006 after graduating from Lincoln College. He has spent the last 17 years working at the firm’s Lincoln office, gaining practical experience and being supported in undertaking specialist qualifications to further his career. Nick said:
“I’m very proud and excited to be taking on the role of partner at Wilkin Chapman’s personal injury and clinical negligence department in Lincoln.
“Whether it’s the UK’s hardworking military personnel or our agricultural workers – which is recognised as one of the most statistically dangerous industries in the UK by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) – I look forward to furthering the firm’s important work supporting people with life-changing, catastrophic injuries in these incredibly dangerous areas.”
“I haven’t taken the most conventional path to become a partner, but Wilkin Chapman has nurtured me from day one. It has encouraged me to learn as I earn, instead of going to university. I’ve been hands-on, experiencing the law and its evolution in real-time.
“This to me proves that there really are no barriers to what you can achieve – if you have the right support and the right mentality.”
James Kinnaird joined Wilkin Chapman in 2008 and has spent 15 years building his knowledge of commercial litigation to support businesses across the country. He said:
“I’m thrilled to be accepting the position of partner in Wilkin Chapman’s commercial dispute resolution team at our Lincoln office. I look forward to continuing to support businesses, directors, and shareholders when they get into disputes with other businesses or internally with each other. On his high court employment specialism, James said: “whether companies are struggling with the misuse of their confidential information, a breach of restrictive covenants or unlawful team moves (a team of employees resigning to work for a competitor), I’m here to provide critical support for this niche area of law.”
Senior partner, Andrew Holt said: “This is a huge personal achievement for them both. Nick and James are what you might call ‘home-grown lawyers’, having trained and worked in the firm to reach this position. We saw their potential, supported their career progression and we’re delighted they are joining the partnership.”
Trimble Group hails game-changing support from Growth Hub
Trimble Group CEO Toby Trimble has hailed ‘game-changing’ Richmondshire business support, which is helping them flourish.
Two years ago the Richmond-based veterinary-led communications company embarked on a transformative journey with York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub. Before accessing the Growth Hub’s extensive resources and expertise, Trimble Group had to shoulder all of its own challenges. This changed when they partnered with the Growth Hub.
Toby Trimble, CEO and founder of Trimble Group, said; “The York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub has been an absolute game-changer for our business. They provided us with support, guidance, and funding opportunities.
“From helping us develop our studio to connecting us with a trusted advisor, they’ve been there every step of the way. Their non-judgemental approach and expert advice have been helpful in overcoming challenges and building a sustainable growth plan. We highly recommend their services to any business seeking to thrive.”
Collaborating with the Growth Hub’s Business Relationship Manager Nick White, support has taken various forms. This began with help to secure a grant that played a pivotal role in establishing Trimble Group’s studio. This extra finance allowed for vital purchases such as lighting equipment. This in turn enabled the execution of multiple shoots and significantly enhancing their working efficiency.
Beyond financial aid, Nick provided invaluable guidance that has helped shape Trimble Group’s growth strategies. Rather than dictating a rigid path, the Growth Hub has been a guiding hand. This helped the Trimble Group navigate challenges and seize opportunities.
One of the key aspects of Trimble Group’s operations is their reliance on studios. With Nick’s guidance, they expertly transformed an office space into a production facility. This was made possible through funding from the Supply Chain Network. The funding has enabled upgrades like a lighting grid and sound treatment, elevating the quality and efficiency of content production.
Furthermore, Trimble Group’s association with the Growth Hub led to great connections for the company. Toby said; “I think the most valuable thing the Growth Hub has done for us is connecting me with a valuable advisor. Having someone discuss your challenges without judgement and help you get to a solution has been instrumental to us. With this support we are building towards what we hope is going to be a really bright future.”
Land deal paves the way for ABP port expansion on south bank
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Rule change allows advice for the region’s tiniest SMEs
Made Smarter East Midlands has announced that the programme eligibility criteria are being changed to include manufacturers with headcounts of nine people or fewer.
Since its launch a year ago, the East Midlands Made Smarter Programme has been open only to SME Manufacturers in Greater Lincolnshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire with headcounts between 10 and 249 people. With immediate effect the programme will now accepting expressions of interest from micro sized manufacturers
Made Smarter East Midlands now offers the following support to micro manufacturing businesses in Greater Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, and Derbyshire through the national Made Smarter Website https://www.madesmarter.uk/
• Digital Road Mapping – A lighter touch road map is available to Micro businesses, which will set out a Digital Implementation Plan.
• Access to 10 hours of fully funded Industrial Digital Technology Advice (IDTA)
• Grant funding to support CAPEX and revenue projects.
Programme Director Dr Chris Owen said: “We can now expand the scope of the East Midlands Made Smarter programme to thousands of micro SME Manufacturers across the region. Since we opened our doors for business in December 2022, we have had a healthy interest from micro sized manufacturers who are eager for support to adopt industrial digital technology but we have been unable to help them. “We’ll be reaching out to all those micro manufacturers who have already registered and expression of interest in Made Smarter East Midlands, and opening our doors to new expressions of interest from other micro manufacturers across the region. We have created a pathway of support specifically designed for micro manufacturers, which is quicker and lighter touch than the core programme, but still gives companies access to packages of free and impartial technical advice and grant funding of up to £20,000 to help them adopt industrial digital technology.” Alongside the new Micro manufacturer pathway the core programme will still continue to accept expressions of interest from manufacturers with headcounts of 10 to 249 people. In just one year, Made Smarter East Midlands has engaged with over 150 manufacturing businesses across the region providing much needed grant funding, free and impartial technical advice, digital transformation road mapping and Leadership Development. To find out more about what is available, visit the Made Smarter East Midlands website, where you can also express your interest and sign up to this fantastic opportunity https://www.madesmarter.uk/adoption/in-my-region/east-midlands/£10.5m funding deal accelerates growth for Yorkshire home buying business
A Yorkshire-based property company, which specialises in buying homes for cash in seven days, is eyeing further expansion having gained full shareholding ownership of the business after securing a £10.5m funding solution.
The Property Buying Company based in Wetherby, is primarily utilising the facility provided by Reward Finance Group to buy out a London investment and lending company, which has owned a 50% shareholding in the business since 2017.
The complexity and speed of the buy-out meant that it needed a lender that could offer the pace and flexibility of funding. The deal is the highest single lend provided by Reward, which specialises in providing tailored business finance and asset based solutions to SMEs across England, Wales and Scotland.
The Property Buying Company was founded in 2012 by Karl McArdle and Jonny Christie and is now looking to accelerate the next stage of its growth plans, with the funding allowing it to further bolster its systems, infrastructure and recruit, whilst being in a position to complete a significantly increased volume of property purchases in the year ahead.
Karl McArdle, co-founder for The Property Buying Company, said: “We’re hugely grateful to the contribution made by investors who have helped us rapidly expand the business over the last 11 years. It’s been an amazing journey.
“However, we’d always hoped to regain full shareholding to gain greater control over the direction of the business. Now feels like the right time to make that move as we enter a major phase of growth.
“We turned to Reward as we needed a lender which understood our business and could provide a fast and flexible funding solution of this size and complexity which also involved taking 49 properties as security in a short space of time.
“The additional working capital will provide the catalyst for expansion and gear us up for what promises to be an exciting 12 months ahead.”
Dave Jones, Reward’s founding director, added: “I’ve recently had the pleasure of spending a significant amount of time with both Karl and Jonny, to get under the skin of their business and structure a deal which is bespoke to their needs.
“They’ve built up a fantastic business and so we’re really pleased to have been able to provide an agile finance solution that has enabled them to regain full ownership and fuel future expansion.
“A single deal of this lending size, being in excess of £10m, is also a first for Reward and a real landmark for the business. We have now completed over 2,000 deals. However, it seems very fitting that this milestone has been achieved by supporting Karl and Jonny, as Reward also first started its own journey in Leeds at a very similar time to them.”
ABP appoints Business Development Manager to lead clean energy transition
ABP has appointed commercial and property expert Lex Hanham as Business Development Manager, where she will be spearheading projects to accelerate the UK’s clean energy transition, including Immingham’s Green Energy Terminal and the Humber’s Viking 2 carbon capture initiative.
Having originally joined ABP as a Graduate Management Trainee in Southampton, Lex has more than 15 years’ experience at the organisation. She has successfully delivered projects across a wide range of business functions, from operations to property management and from project management to commercial.
Ralph Windeatt, ABP Head of Business Development, said: “Lex brings with her a wealth of knowledge, skills and insight from her hugely successful time in Southampton and she joins at an exciting time for the development of our pipeline. I am confident the experience she brings from her time in the ports industry will strongly benefit existing and future customers in this role.”
Lex said: “I find joy in the pursuit of possibilities; the satisfaction of turning opportunity into reality and forging connections and lasting partnerships with customers. I am excited to be a part of the team sculpting a future for our ports defined by growth and innovation.
“Transitioning from the core port business to the dynamic realm of alternative energy is not just a shift in focus; it’s a leap into a future sector where success is measured not just in profits but in the positive change we catalyze for generations to come. I look forward to being a part of the fusion of business acumen and environmental stewardship, where every strategic move echoes a commitment to a greener, more sustainable world.’’
With projects such as Immingham Green Energy Terminal (IGET) under way, the past years have reinvigorated public interest in ports’ role as enablers of net zero. This facility will use CO2 shipping to deliver decarbonisation without risking deindustrialisation and will create a cleaner, greener and more prosperous future for the UK.
This focus on sustainable solutions has been amplified by ABP’s sustainability strategy, ‘Ready for Tomorrow’, which sets out the company’s plans to invest £2 billion in decarbonising its own operations by 2040 as well as enabling the wider UK energy transition through large-scale clean energy infrastructure projects.
A salient example of a project in the pipeline includes the Viking CCS on the Humber, which has secured Track 2 status in the Government’s cluster sequencing process. This is an important step towards attaining an economic licence for the permanent storage of CO2 in the Viking fields. The project will reuse existing pipelines and decommissioned gas fields to provide a very cost-competitive solution for storage of CO2 emissions.
Once complete, Viking CCS will have the capability to store up to 10 million tonnes of CO2 per year by 2030, rising to 15 million tonnes per year by 2035. This can make a significant contribution to the UK’s sixth carbon budget. The project also has the potential to unlock £7 billion of private investment for the Humber region across the CCS value chain. This will bring significant benefits to the local community and the UK overall, including the potential creation of up to 10,000 new, good quality jobs during construction and a contribution of £4 billion of GVA to the economy.
Capita sells 75% stake in York-based Fera Science
Capita plc has agreed to sell its 75% stake in York-based Fera Science Limited to Bridgepoint Group plc, for an enterprise value of £60m on a cash-free, debt-free basis. The deal values the total joint venture at £80m.
The sale of Capita’s 75% interest in Fera, a joint venture with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), will result in Capita receiving cash proceeds of £62m upon completion.
This will provide additional liquidity to further strengthen Capita’s balance sheet and support investment across the Group.
Fera was established in 2015 as a joint venture between Capita (75%) and Defra (25%) to create a financially sustainable business, focused on the agriculture, farming and food production market. It specialises in environmental testing, research, and advisory and assurance services for both the public and private sectors.
All current Fera senior management and employees will remain with the business when Bridgepoint becomes the new majority shareholder on completion.
Jon Lewis, Capita’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are very pleased to have agreed the sale of our stake in Fera after a competitive auction process.
“Capita and Defra have partnered together to grow and professionalise Fera over the past eight years, creating significant value for us and the taxpayer.
“Fera is now a vibrant and profitable commercial business, successfully serving private sector and government customers in both the UK and overseas.
“We had previously announced our intention to sell our stake in Fera, as part of our ongoing strategy to simplify and strengthen Capita. It was the appropriate time to find a new partner to build on the strong, successful foundations now in place at Fera and take the company onto the next stage of its development.
“This is the latest excellent example of Capita successfully collaborating with the UK Government to commercialise and transform Government assets into valuable businesses, following previous successes including Constructionline and AXELOS.”
Insurance broker snaps up Leeds group
AssuredPartners, an insurance broker in the United States, UK and Ireland, has acquired Leeds-based Romero Group, which includes Romero Insurance Brokers Limited, it’s subsidiary Sentient Group Limited and Club Insure Limited (Romero). The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approval.
Founded in 1997 by Justin Romero-Trigo, Romero has enjoyed exceptional growth and become one of the largest independent commercial insurance brokers in the UK, controlling over £100m of GWP and employing 205 staff across 5 regional offices.
All staff will stay in place post-acquisition under the leadership team of Group CEO, Justin Romero-Trigo, Group MD, Simon Mabb and Group COO, Victoria Romero-Trigo.
David Heathfield, CEO of AssuredPartners UK and Ireland, said: “It’s not just the scale of Romero that sets it apart from its independent peers but the way in which the business has been structured to ensure clients receive an unrivalled level of service from placement to claims advocacy.
“Our largest acquisition to date, the addition of Romero to our growing group is a key milestone in our expansion plans and the combination of these two powerful brands will create better solutions for our clients and provide great opportunities for all staff.”
Justin Romero-Trigo said: “AssuredPartners have met all our requirements in continuing our exceptional service to our clients. I am proud that after 26 years we have secured a like minded partner who will allow us to continue and reinforce our growth trajectory.
“I would like to pay testimony to my staff and management team who have given me 100% at all times, we have and continue to achieve greatness in every area we operate in. Our constant drive for change and growth is in built in our DNA and we needed a partner that we could continue to flourish our entrepreneurial spirit.
“I am pleased to say that in AssuredPartners we have found the perfect partner and with our strong leadership through Simon and myself we are in safe hands.”
Simon Mabb said: “I’m really pleased that we have been able to find the forever home for the Romero businesses. We were very clear that we had to join a business with the same cultural alignment for our staff and clients.
“I’d also like to thank all the team at Romero for their hard work over the years to make the businesses the huge success they are today. Lastly, I’d like to publicly thank Justin for his unwavering support to me personally over the last 15 years, I look forward to working with him and the AssuredPartners team to continue our journey.”
NFU pushes ahead with campaign to ban sky lanterns
The farmers’ union has joined forces with farming, environment, animal and fire organisations to call for a national ban of sky lanterns as part of a long-running campaign to ground them for good.
NFU Vice President David Exwood said: “Sky lanterns continue to be a real danger to many of us living and working in the countryside. They can cause serious injury to livestock if they are eaten, particularly with so many calves and lambs in the fields in the spring and summer months.
“As the weather gets drier the potential for damage to crops and buildings is also increased.
“By launching this petition and galvanising the support of the British public, we can show the UK Government, and the Defra minister with responsibility, Jo Churchill MP, that there is widespread support for a total ban of sky lanterns in England and Wales. I urge farmers and growers to add their name and help ground sky lanterns for good.”
Since May 2022, more than 100,000 members of the public have signed a petition calling on the government to follow the lead of hundreds of local councils and introduce an outright ban. Parliament recognises 100,000 signatures as the most significant milestone a petition can reach.
David added: “We wrote to Environment Minister Trudy Harrison MP to ask for a national ban on sky lanterns. She has responded informing us that Defra have now commissioned research into the harms caused by sky lanterns.
“Last month we wrote to Defra again, calling for them to share the research findings given the ongoing support from the public calling for a ban.
“Every year up to 200,000 sky lanterns are released in the UK and farmers continue to report the threat they are posing to their farm businesses.
“These floating flames are highly dangerous and can start wildfires, kill livestock, destroy crops and set homes and buildings alight.”
Germany, Austria and Brazil are among the countries that have already implemented a total ban.
Transpennine rail route gets £3.9bn upgrade funding
Work on the Transpennine Route Upgrade will be accelerated through the cash injection of £3.9bn, leading to quicker journey times, reduced carbon emissions and more reliable services between key northern cities, Rail Minister Huw Merriman will announce today.
Once complete, the full route will offer significantly improved services on the route between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds, and York, with rail users benefiting from a fully-electrified line, accessible stations and more frequent services.
Today’s announcement means government has invested a total of £6.9 billion into the upgrade, with the initial £3 billion funding work to deliver early benefits by the middle of the decade, such as the electrification of tracks.
Further funding will be confirmed by the department as the project progresses to support the overall cost of up to £11.5 billion. This takes the total investment from central government above what was provided for Crossrail, reflecting the scale of what’s being delivered for northern passengers.
The project also underpins the delivery of Northern Powerhouse Rail, which the government recently strengthened its support for by pledging a further £12 billion into its delivery to better connect Liverpool and Manchester.
Furthermore, Bradford and Hull are to be brought into the NPR scheme, using savings from HS2. The new Bradford station will support regeneration efforts in the UK’s seventh-largest city and facilitate a new rail connection to Manchester via Huddersfield – almost halving journey times whilst doubling the frequency of services and double the capacity with up to an extra 1,000 seats per hour.
The Transpennine Route Upgrade followed by NPR demonstrate the government’s commitment to investing in infrastructure to improve rail connections right across the North of England.
Rail Minister Huw Merriman said: “The Transpennine Route Upgrade represents the first major step in delivering transformed east-west connectivity in the north and I’m delighted to announce this multi-billion-pound funding boost to move to the next stage of delivery.
“Today’s announcement demonstrates this government’s commitment to delivering its Network North plan which will improve journeys, help to level up regions and grow the economy.”
Once complete in the mid-2030s, the upgrade will offer up to eight trains per hour, hundreds of extra seats, and cut journey times between Manchester and York by 10 minutes.