Frozen food company fined after employee loses fingers

Tess Egginton
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Frozen food company fined after employee loses fingers
A frozen food company has been fined £700,000 after an employee lost two of his fingers following an incident at the firm’s premises in Lincolnshire. Tom Matthews, from Grantham, now champions health and safety in his current job at a different company, warning others to avoid his misfortune. He had been working a night shift at McCain Foods’ site in Easton on 2 September 2019 when he suffered serious injuries to his left hand. While cleaning the company’s batter system machinery, the 33-year-old had attempted to remove string dangling from a chute when his left hand was drawn in and contacted the machine’s rotary valve. The index and middle finger were later amputated as a result of the incident. Tom Matthews, a father-of-two, said: “The last four years have been hard and an ongoing struggle both physically and mentally. I still have circulation problems in my left hand following the incident that should never have happened. “While I’m currently working, my new role is with the health and safety team at a different company as I want to use my story as an example to others and make sure something like this doesn’t happen again.” A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that McCain Foods had failed to provide appropriate guarding to prevent access to the dangerous parts of machinery, namely the rotary valve. It had not conducted an adequate risk assessment of the batter machine and had not provided employees with adequate health and safety training or supervision. McCain Foods (G.B.) Limited, of Havers Hill, Eastfield, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and Section 11(1) of Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER). The company was fined £700,000 and ordered to pay £6,508.51 in costs at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on 22 November 2023. HSE inspector Muir Finlay said: “This incident could so easily have been avoided had the company taken simple steps to guard dangerous parts of machinery and provide employees with suitable training and supervision. “Companies and individuals should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.” This prosecution was led by HSE enforcement lawyer Jonathan Bambro and supported by Rubina Abdul-Karim.

Devolution deal presents opportunities for business, says York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub

Stuart Pearcey
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Devolution deal presents opportunities for business, says York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub
The devolution deal for York and North Yorkshire is a major opportunity for the region’s businesses, according to the York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub. An order for City of York Council and North Yorkshire Council to create a combined authority has now been laid before Parliament, marking an important step in the devolution process. If the order is approved, a York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority will be established in the new year. The combined authority will be led by an elected Mayor and will also work in partnership with your local authority. It will deliver the powers and funding devolved from Westminster to York and North Yorkshire. This allows it to make decisions that are in the best interests of local businesses. Potential outcomes:
  • More investment in our towns and high streets. Local decision-making will enable investments strategically. This will channel resources to significantly boost towns and high streets. This means more opportunities for business to thrive in an increasingly vibrant local environment.
  • Skills investment tailored to your workforce. The devolution deal will ensure that skills investment is closely aligned with the unique challenges and needs of our region. This will allow you to build a stronger workforce now and for the challenges of tomorrow.
  • Support for growth with a focus on climate-friendly solutions. The future is green, and the devolution deal places importance on supporting business to adapt to more sustainable approaches. As we collectively move towards net-zero, solutions will not only focus on reducing environmental impact. They will also seek to open new doors for growth and cost reduction in your business.
  • Increased investment in housing. Employee wellbeing is vital. The increased investment in housing will ensure that your staff have access to the right mix and type of housing. This will in turn help you attract and retain top talent.

British Steel to share plans for operational changes at consultation events

Stuart Pearcey
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British Steel to share plans for operational changes at consultation events
British Steel will stage consultation events to showcase its £1.25billion proposals to transform its operations. Earlier this month, the steel manufacturer unveiled ambitious plans for the biggest transformation in its history with a proposal to adopt electric arc furnace steelmaking. The plans, subject to appropriate support from the UK Government, could see British Steel install two electric arc furnaces one each at its HQ in Scunthorpe, the second at its manufacturing site in Teesside. The new furnaces could be operational by late 2025 and would replace the existing iron and steelmaking operations in Scunthorpe which are responsible for the vast majority of the company’s CO2 emissions. In December, it will stage four events – two each in Scunthorpe and Teesside – to share information about its plans. British Steel CEO and President Xijun Can said: “We have already engaged extensively with the public and private sectors to understand the feasibility of producing net zero steel with our current blast furnace operations. Thorough analysis shows this is not viable, which is why we are proposing to transform our operations so we can make the net zero steel the UK will need for decades to come. “We’d now like to consult with the people living in our communities about our proposals to adopt a clean and sustainable way of making steel. “At the events, people will have the chance to see our plans in greater detail and ask questions about the planning implications for our proposals. Feedback from the events will be used to shape any future planning applications we may make.” The Scunthorpe events are on Friday 8 December, between 11am and 3pm, at the 20-21 Visual Arts Centre in Church Square, Scunthorpe. British Steel unveiled its Low-Carbon Roadmap in October 2021, pledging to invest in a range of technologies to deliver net-zero steel by 2050, and significantly reduce its CO2 intensity by 2030 and 2035. However, the company is now proposing to accelerate its decarbonisation journey with the potential new operating structure able to reduce its CO2 intensity by more than 75 per cent. Xijun said: “Our desire to dramatically reduce our carbon footprint, coupled with current market conditions, means we can’t wait and need to transform our business as quickly as possible. And while decarbonisation will not happen overnight, it’s imperative we take swift and decisive action to ensure a sustainable future for British Steel. “We studied having one large electric arc furnace based in Scunthorpe, one which was capable of manufacturing all of the steel we require for our rolling mills in the Humber and the North East. However, such a large furnace would require a new National Grid connection and it is anticipated this would not be available until 2034. We therefore believe the most viable and timely option is to have two smaller furnaces which combine to produce the volumes of steel we require.” British Steel has started preliminary talks with trade unions about electrification, and has promised to support employees affected by the decarbonisation plans. It has agreed for its proposals to be reviewed by an external specialist on behalf of the trade unions. The company is also working with North Lincolnshire Council on a masterplan to attract new businesses and jobs to the Scunthorpe site, parts of which could become vacant if the proposals go ahead.

Alexandra Dock Housing site released to market

Tess Egginton
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Alexandra Dock Housing site released to market
An opportunity to create a brand new housing development on brownfield land near the Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre has been released. The site, behind the newly renovated Garth Lane waterfront area, has been earmarked by the Council for urban housing and the Council is now looking for a development partner to come forward to drive the project forward. The 6.25 acre town centre site bordered by Fisherman’s Wharf and the River Freshney will eventually see a community of around 130 homes with supporting commercial accommodation. The frontage of the site, bordering Alexandra Dock, was completed in 2021, and includes the new footbridge over the River. This area was identified for homes in Grimsby’s Town Centre Masterplan, which is supported by Homes England, and is cited as an ideal location given the water nearby and the improvements that have already taken place. Investment worth approximately £7.8m to support the development at this site has already been secured through the Government’s Towns Fund. Cllr Philip Jackson, leader of the council with responsibilities for the economy, net zero, skills and housing, said: “The main objective of this work is to create a place that connects the town and its community with its waterside, creating a fantastic urban living environment. “There’s a long way to go yet, and developments of this scale don’t happen overnight. But we are working to improve the town centre as a whole and this is part of that vision. Step-by-step we want to change how our town centre is used and enjoyed as a whole.” Potential bidders can view documentation on www.find-tender.service.gov.uk– external site. Selected developers will then take part in a competitive dialogue, followed by an invitation to submit formal tenders to develop out the site from 2024 onwards.

County leaders sign proposed Lincolnshire devolution deal

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County leaders sign proposed Lincolnshire devolution deal

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State of Levelling Up Jacob Young met the three Greater Lincolnshire Council Leaders today (27 November 2023) as they united to sign the greater county’s proposed devolution deal.

Mr Young joined North East Lincolnshire Council Leader Cllr Philip Jackson, along with Cllr Martin Hill OBE from Lincolnshire County Council and Cllr Rob Waltham MBE from North Lincolnshire for the ceremonial event held at Scunthorpe’s 20-21 Visual Arts Centre.

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Levelling Up Jacob Young said: “It’s fantastic to be here in Lincolnshire today announcing our devolution deal for the Greater Lincolnshire area.

“It comes alongside extra funding, more powers and a new directly elected mayor for the Lincolnshire area. I know it’s going to have a dramatic impact across the whole of the Lincolnshire County.”

Cllr Martin Hill said: “This is a deal which will be fantastic for Greater Lincolnshire, from the Humber down to the Wash.

“It gives us a lot of extra spending power over the next 30 years, £24 million a year for the next 30 years, and some additional money straight away that we can spend on our priority areas.

“But importantly it will give us extra powers as well to make sure that we can direct that spending in areas that we know local people need it, around infrastructure, around transport, around housing, flood defence and various other areas where we know we’ve got need in the county.

“We know it’s going to be great for us in determining the future direction of Greater Lincolnshire.”

Henry Boot Construction to deliver latest AMRC Innovation Facility development

Tess Egginton
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Henry Boot Construction to deliver latest AMRC Innovation Facility development
Construction firm Henry Boot Construction has been appointed to deliver the next development for the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC). The development is a new open-access research facility, which will be home to Composites at Speed and Scale (COMPASS). Project COMPASS is dedicated to developing and testing new technologies needed to meet future demand for lighter commercial aircraft and support the aviation industry’s commitment to reach net zero by 2050. The first research programme to take place in the facility will be the Isothermic High-Rate Sustainable Structures (IHSS) project led by aerospace giant Boeing, in partnership with AMRC, Loop Technology and Spirit AeroSystems. A planning application for the development was approved earlier this year, with Henry Boot Construction getting work underway earlier this month. The 29,700 sq ft state-of-the-art research facility will be located to the south of the AMRC’s flagship Factory 2050 facility and will have enough space for 60 staff and visitors. It will comprise of a large open-plan factory space, individual workshop areas and flexible ancillary spaces. Its robust and sustainable design encompasses industry-leading responses to environmental, social and economic responsibility. The building is jointly funded by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, Sheffield City Council, the University of Sheffield and the High Value Manufacturing Catapult. It will house a raft of state-of-the-art equipment secured through a £29.5m grant from the UK Government’s Aerospace Technology Institute Programme. Tony Shaw, Managing Director from Henry Boot Construction, said: “We take great pride in being appointed as the lead contractor on the AMRC’s newest research facility. It is our latest project for the university, having successfully delivered the Royce Discovery Centre in 2022. “We have a reputation for delivering high quality projects, and our role in the latest AMRC development underscores the University of Sheffield’s dedication to creating a world-class facility – one that propels Sheffield and South Yorkshire on a global scale. “The stated values and goals of the AMRC align closely with those of Henry Boot Construction. “As a company with significant experience in the region, we are committed to working with local supply chain partners wherever possible and helping to grow the regional economy. “This is demonstrated through our selection of Sheffield-based firm Elecomm, who we have selected to be our principal MEP (Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing) partner on the project. “We are determined to leave a legacy in the locations in which we work and, as with all of our projects, we have committed to a social value strategy to unlock multiple local charity, community and education benefits.” Mark Holden, Head of Estates Development at the University of Sheffield, said: “We’re delighted to work with Henry Boot as part of the project team to deliver the AMRC’s new research facility which will put South Yorkshire at the forefront of UK aerospace manufacturing. “The new building is the latest addition to the University of Sheffield’s Innovation District – an established world-leading research district where local innovations result in real-world impact.” The wider project team for the new AMRC facility’s capital build programme includes Gardiner & Theobald, Rex Procter, Bond Bryan, Curtins and Arup – with the building expected to be completed by the end of 2024.

New CEO of Right Fuel Card named

Tess Egginton
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New CEO of Right Fuel Card named

Yorkshire-based Right Fuel Card, part of the Edenred group, has appointed Matthew Briggs as its new CEO.

Matthew Briggs has held a number of executive roles in the automotive sector. This started with building the UKs largest independent motor insurance assessing organisation. He then joined FMG Support and helped build its fleet incident management business which partnered with most of the UKs top 10 vehicle leasing organisations.

From there, he joined Universal Salvage PLC to execute the turnaround, which was successfully completed with its sale to Copart – the world’s largest vehicle remarketing organisation.

Subsequently he became CCO of the RAC and was part of the exco who ran its sale to Private Equity in 2011. More recently he was CEO of AutoProtect Group, which provides products, services, tech and data analytics to over 4,000 vehicle retailers in the UK&I and Europe.

Briggs will take full responsibility for the leadership and development of RFC Edenred, playing a key role in meeting the company’s growth goals whilst supporting Edenred’s ‘Beyond’ strategy, aimed at providing value added services beyond fuel cards to Right Fuel Card’s 30,000 customers.

Briggs says: “I am delighted to be joining RFC Edenred as CEO at a time when the global mobility and automotive markets undergo significant change. With change brings opportunity, and I am excited to be working with the RFC Edenred colleagues to develop our proposition and capitalise on the automotive revolution.”

First female chair appointed by the Road Safety Markings Association

Tess Egginton
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First female chair appointed by the Road Safety Markings Association
Julie Davidson, quality manager for Lincoln-headquartered aviation and highways specialist Jointline, has been named as the first female chair of the Road Safety Markings Association (RSMA) in its 47-year history. Established in 1976, the RSMA is one of the largest specialist trade bodies in the highways sector, that works with partners and stakeholders to create a safer road network. Current priorities include the challenges of reducing the carbon emissions of heavy plant machinery, driving industry-wide recruitment and specialist training, and the maintenance of line markings on the UK’s road network, which must develop swiftly to support the technology required for autonomous vehicles. Julie Davidson, 52, sits on the board of the RSMA, with her fellow board members having selected her as the new chair. She takes over from Justin Fischbach who was in post for 12 months. Julie will be supported by Rob Shearing, the recently appointed CEO, who joined the membership organisation in May 2023, having previously been CEO of Wolverhampton City Credit Union. Rob Shearing, CEO of the RSMA, said: “We are thrilled to appoint Julie to the position of chair of the RSMA. Her insight and technical knowledge of the quality, safety, compliance, and environmental standards that bodies such as National Highways and local authorities require for future contracts will be a tremendous asset to our whole membership. “The high level of research and development undertaken by our members and partners to create smarter, more advanced highways, sees the UK regarded as a leader in road marking technology. Many of our member companies employ skilled UK workforces that operate globally. Myself, the board, and all member organisations offer our full support to Julie in steering the RSMA to a bright future.” Julie Davidson joined Jointline in 2006, progressing to the role of quality manager in 2014. Established in 1987, the British-owned business has three main divisions; highways; airfield and distribution centre lining; and civil engineering, all of which have seen substantial growth over the past year. Julie Davidson said: “It is an honour to sit on the board of the RSMA and I am excited to continue the work of Justin Fischbach as the new chair. A lot of the work undertaken at Jointline to invest in specialist training, recruit apprentices to learn from our experienced workforce, and our journey to net zero, is relevant to the wider membership. I hope that my appointment will help to encourage more women into the industry. “With a General Election likely next Autumn, the RSMA will also be campaigning for enhanced infrastructure investment. Upgrading the UK’s road markings would help ensure safer journeys for all and pave the way for the gradual introduction of autonomous vehicles.”

MD Law builds commercial property arm

Tess Egginton
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MD Law builds commercial property arm
Sheffield’s MD Law continues to build its new commercial property arm with the appointment of a new partner to the team.Solicitor Wendy Martin joins bringing two decades of commercial property experience to the boutique law firm.Wendy will work with consultant solicitor Howard Wade, who joined the firm last December, to support existing and new clients on commercial property issues and also with commercial partner James Burdekin, when corporate deals involve property aspects. Experienced commercial property professional Wendy has worked at South Yorkshire and Derby law firms since 2000 and brings her specialisms of freehold and leasehold sales and acquisitions, landlord and tenant advice and leasework. She will also help grow the commercial property team.Wendy said: “Having worked at larger firms more recently, I am looking forward to being involved in a team environment and playing more of a hands-on role in developing and expanding the team, its offering and its workload. “People deal with people, and it was the people here that swung it for me, it feels like the right place to be.” MD Law partner Matthew Dixon, who set up the business eight years ago acting for, and advising professionals, businesses and individuals across the country on corporate law, insolvency, litigation and commercial property matters, said: “I am delighted to welcome Wendy and her considerable high-level commercial property experience, to the firm.“We are privileged to attract such talent who will help to drive further growth, and continue to deliver strong results for all our clients. Wendy’s addition also takes us another step in the right direction towards meeting our long-term growth goals, with the firm now boasting six partners.”

JCT600 directors walk the Dales Way for automotive charity

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JCT600 directors walk the Dales Way for automotive charity

Eight hardy colleagues from JCT600 have once again donned their hiking boots in the name of charity, completing the 80-mile Dales Way to raise funds for automotive charity partner BEN.

Earlier this autumn, the team took on the challenge of walking from Ilkley, West Yorkshire, to Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria – a five-and-a-half day hike, requiring a total of 200,000 steps and burning an average of 17,000 calories.

The intrepid team comprised: John Tordoff, chief executive; Nigel Shaw, financial director; Richard Hargraves, managing director; Tracey Newton, people director; Graham Thacker, operations director; Andy Bateman, customer experience director; James Parker, chief information officer; and Ben Creswick, managing director of the group’s vehicles leasing division, JCT600 VLS.

The walk was part of the BEN’s Benathlon Challenge which encouraged automotive businesses to exercise for a whole month, and was also an opportunity to fundraise for the charity which supports anyone in need who has worked in the industry. The JCT600 team has succeeded in raising £8,500 for BEN so far and donations can be made to https://giving.ben.org.uk/pf/jct600dalesway

Richard Hargraves said: “BEN plays a vital role in the automotive industry, helping individuals from our sector when they need it most, and it’s vital that businesses like ours do all we can to support their work.

“With many colleagues having previously taken part in fundraising activities, from hiking the Yorkshire Three Peaks to a 500-mile walking, running, cycling, swimming and rowing challenge to tour all of our 50-plus dealerships, we felt the rigours of the Dales Way should be added to the list.

“Passing through the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, it is a truly spectacular walk – even in torrential rain! Thanks to everyone for their support in helping us raise £8,500 for this fantastic charity.”

BEN is dedicated to supporting anyone who works or has worked in the UK automotive industry, plus their family dependents. As well as supporting individuals in crisis, for example, by providing free life coaching, the charity also works with companies in the sector, helping them to promote the health and wellbeing of their people.

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