This will be the largest-ever increase in the minimum wage in cash terms, and the first time it has increased by more than £1. The size of this increase is driven by the strength of pay growth across the economy, which is forecast to continue into next year.
Low Pay Commission Chair Bryan Sanderson said:”The National Living Wage has delivered an improved standard of living to thousands of people who care for our children and elderly, work in farms and shops and at many other essential jobs. These efforts over the lifetime of the NLW mean over £9,000 p.a. more to a full time worker without any increase in unemployment.
“This hasn’t been easy for employers, with the economy facing a range of unprecedented challenges in recent years. The high degree of political and economic uncertainty has made assessing and forecasting the performance of the economy, and therefore our task, very difficult. It is a tribute to my fellow Commissioners that we have continued to achieve consensus.
“Our new recommendation of a National Living Wage of £11.44 attempts to steer a path through this uncertainty and achieve the government target of two-thirds of the median wage, an outcome which if accepted would position the UK at the forefront of comparable economies.”
He said the Commission had heard evidence from employers across the UK about the pressures they faced. Costs in most sectors have continued to rise, and uncertainty has made it difficult to plan for and invest in the future. Small and medium-sized businesses report the greatest concerns, and firms in low-paying sectors are more worried about reduced consumer demand, costs of energy and the cost of labour than firms in other sectors.
“At the same time, the low-paid workers we spoke to this year painted a picture of growing hardship. Those on the lowest incomes have felt the rising cost of living most sharply. We heard accounts of foodbank usage and indebtedness as targeted support introduced last year began to fall away,” he added.
“We believe our recommendation will restore the real value of the NLW, which has been eroded through the recent cost of living crisis. Our judgement is that this increase will not cause significant risk to employment prospects.” Minimum wage rates to increase as Government accepts Low Pay Commission’s findings
The Government has accepted the Low Pay Commission’s recommendations on minimum wage rates to apply from April 2024. The rates recommended by the LPC are set out below, and represent the first time the rate has increased by more than £1.
This will be the largest-ever increase in the minimum wage in cash terms, and the first time it has increased by more than £1. The size of this increase is driven by the strength of pay growth across the economy, which is forecast to continue into next year.
Low Pay Commission Chair Bryan Sanderson said:”The National Living Wage has delivered an improved standard of living to thousands of people who care for our children and elderly, work in farms and shops and at many other essential jobs. These efforts over the lifetime of the NLW mean over £9,000 p.a. more to a full time worker without any increase in unemployment.
“This hasn’t been easy for employers, with the economy facing a range of unprecedented challenges in recent years. The high degree of political and economic uncertainty has made assessing and forecasting the performance of the economy, and therefore our task, very difficult. It is a tribute to my fellow Commissioners that we have continued to achieve consensus.
“Our new recommendation of a National Living Wage of £11.44 attempts to steer a path through this uncertainty and achieve the government target of two-thirds of the median wage, an outcome which if accepted would position the UK at the forefront of comparable economies.”
He said the Commission had heard evidence from employers across the UK about the pressures they faced. Costs in most sectors have continued to rise, and uncertainty has made it difficult to plan for and invest in the future. Small and medium-sized businesses report the greatest concerns, and firms in low-paying sectors are more worried about reduced consumer demand, costs of energy and the cost of labour than firms in other sectors.
“At the same time, the low-paid workers we spoke to this year painted a picture of growing hardship. Those on the lowest incomes have felt the rising cost of living most sharply. We heard accounts of foodbank usage and indebtedness as targeted support introduced last year began to fall away,” he added.
“We believe our recommendation will restore the real value of the NLW, which has been eroded through the recent cost of living crisis. Our judgement is that this increase will not cause significant risk to employment prospects.”
This will be the largest-ever increase in the minimum wage in cash terms, and the first time it has increased by more than £1. The size of this increase is driven by the strength of pay growth across the economy, which is forecast to continue into next year.
Low Pay Commission Chair Bryan Sanderson said:”The National Living Wage has delivered an improved standard of living to thousands of people who care for our children and elderly, work in farms and shops and at many other essential jobs. These efforts over the lifetime of the NLW mean over £9,000 p.a. more to a full time worker without any increase in unemployment.
“This hasn’t been easy for employers, with the economy facing a range of unprecedented challenges in recent years. The high degree of political and economic uncertainty has made assessing and forecasting the performance of the economy, and therefore our task, very difficult. It is a tribute to my fellow Commissioners that we have continued to achieve consensus.
“Our new recommendation of a National Living Wage of £11.44 attempts to steer a path through this uncertainty and achieve the government target of two-thirds of the median wage, an outcome which if accepted would position the UK at the forefront of comparable economies.”
He said the Commission had heard evidence from employers across the UK about the pressures they faced. Costs in most sectors have continued to rise, and uncertainty has made it difficult to plan for and invest in the future. Small and medium-sized businesses report the greatest concerns, and firms in low-paying sectors are more worried about reduced consumer demand, costs of energy and the cost of labour than firms in other sectors.
“At the same time, the low-paid workers we spoke to this year painted a picture of growing hardship. Those on the lowest incomes have felt the rising cost of living most sharply. We heard accounts of foodbank usage and indebtedness as targeted support introduced last year began to fall away,” he added.
“We believe our recommendation will restore the real value of the NLW, which has been eroded through the recent cost of living crisis. Our judgement is that this increase will not cause significant risk to employment prospects.” Companies gear up to reduce employee flexibility next year, says report
Almost two-fifths of companies are gearing up to reduce flexibility for their employees next year, according to a study from independent consultancy Barnett Waddingham.
This could see as many as 588,000 businesses planning to offer reduced flexibility to working arrangements, with one in seven offering less flexibility to the places they work (i.e. home vs. the office). Moreover, 15% say they plan to offer less flexibility to working hours.
As CIPD’s recent flexible and hybrid working report also finds that three-fifths of employees currently have flexible working arrangements in their role, Barnett Waddingham’s findings suggest the emergence of a ‘New Front’ in the war for talent; a balancing act between employees who increasingly value flexible working, and employers who, in some cases, seem to be backtracking on these arrangements.
However, despite many businesses planning to offer less flexibility, a substantial number still recognise the importance of flexible working in meeting employee expectations. Approximately 31% of respondents stated that they had introduced more flexibility to their staff in the past year, with a third doing so because they were concerned people would leave if they didn’t.
Julia Turney, Partner at Barnett Waddingham, says: “The findings from this research shed light on the complex situation employers are facing with flexible working. From speaking with business leaders, it’s clear that employers are keen to realise certain benefits of office working; whether that’s improving productivity, creativity and culture or simply to justify spending on training.”
“For most employees however, flexibility is no longer seen as a ‘perk’, but a fundamental consideration for their career. And whilst it’s natural for businesses to seek ways to optimise productivity, it’s equally vital to acknowledge that the workforce’s expectation have shifted significantly, and any changes could impact morale or even see resignations.
“Looking ahead, employers must engage in thoughtful and informed decision-making on this topic, backed up by hard analysis. Only by opening conversations with their workforce, and regularly collecting data will they be able understand where on the sliding-scale of working flexibility they need to sit.”
Richmond building contractor saves historic Dales limekilns
Richmond building firm Staley Stonework have restored one of Westmorland’s most important 19th century industrial sites, the Smardale Gill limekilns near Kirkby Stephen.
It means the Grade II-listed stone structures can be removed from Historic England’s ‘Heritage at Risk’ register.
The kilns had been one of ten Scheduled Monuments and 74 Listed Buildings in the Yorkshire Dales National Park to be classed as ‘at risk’.
Major repair work was carried out between May and October this year by Staley Stonework following structural surveys completed by Mason Clark Associates of York. The project was led by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, as part of the Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership Scheme funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The restoration of the kilns is described as a ‘significant achievement’ in a progress report on the National Park Authority’s annual work programme.
Senior Historic Environment Officer Sarah Whiteley told the Dales Archaeology Day conference: “The kilns were built in the mid-19th century and appear on the 1857 1st edition Ordnance Survey map of the area. They were built initially for the production of lime used in the construction of Smardale Gill viaduct, then in the production of lime for steel making in Barrow and Darlington. They are part of a wider complex of industrial features here, which includes quarries, railway sidings, an incline plane tramway and engine house, representing what was formerly a major commercial lime producing operation.
“Hopefully we have maintained the significance of the kilns by doing this work, and have increased understanding of the monument.”
Growing Places Fund grant programme ready to help businesses grow
In these continuing uncertain times, it can often be difficult to know how to move forward. Costs are continuing to increase with no real light at the end of the tunnel and as a business owner there’s always uncertainty as to the best way forward to help your business grow. At the Growing Places Fund (GPF), managed by the Hull & East Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (HEY LEP), we may be able to help if you have plans to grow your business and are trading in either Hull or East Yorkshire.
The HEY LEP Investment Programme Team are not new to helping businesses in Hull and East Yorkshire. We have a successful track record since 2012 with the previous Growing the Humber (Humber LEP) and Growing Hull & East Yorkshire funding programme and now the Growing Places Fund is continuing to help businesses at the next stage of their development. Grants are generally awarded to businesses with the aim of generating jobs, energising local communities, and strengthening the economy.
The Growing Places Fund can provide capital investment with a view to increasing productivity in your business, in the forms of grants and/or loans from a minimum of £5,000 up to a maximum of £250,000. If your business has been trading for less than a year a grant would normally be capped at £20,000.
The Fund has been running since April 2022 and in that time, we have supported 43 businesses with capital investment from a range of sectors, including Manufacturing to Real Estate across both Hull & East Yorkshire with a 50/50 split across both regions.
If you would like to talk to us further, please do contact us on 07496 315038, or have a look at the funding page on our website: Growing Places Fund Business Growth Capital Investment Programme » HEY LEP – Hull and East Yorkshire.
Please watch the funding page for further announcements regarding events around both Regions promoting the Growing Places Fund.
Good luck with your application and we look forward to working with you and your business.
South Yorkshire education providers secure £1.3m for higher technical qualifications
South Yorkshire education providers have been successful in a bid led by The Sheffield College to expand the region’s higher technical qualifications offer.
A regional consortium has secured £1.3 million from the Department for Education’s Higher Technical Education Skills Injection Fund.
Overseen by The Sheffield College, the bid also involved Barnsley College, DN Colleges Group, RNN Group and Sheffield Hallam University.
Andrew Hartley, Deputy Chief Executive, The Sheffield College, said: “We are delighted to secure funding to provide more higher level technical training opportunities in key industries.
“Higher level technical skills are vital for the careers of today and tomorrow, and to enable employers in our region to develop and grow.”
Higher technical qualifications (HTQs) are new or existing Level 4 and 5 qualifications. They are being rolled out across a wide range of sectors, including computing, construction and health, in a phased approach.
HTQs combine the academic knowledge of a university level qualification with technical skills applied in the workplace.
Designed with employers, HTQs have been approved by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education. They are suitable for students progressing from Level 3 qualifications including vocational diplomas, T Levels and advanced apprenticeships.
Consortium members will use the funding to buy new technical equipment, refurbish facilities and raise awareness of HTQs amongst employers and students.
£48m funding injection gets Penistone rail line on right track
The government have announced that Kirklees Council has been successful in a bid to their Levelling Up Fund for £48 million, to support major improvements to the Penistone rail line.
The Penistone rail line runs between Huddersfield, Penistone and Sheffield, via Barnsley, providing an important link between communities and a sustainable alternative to road travel.
However, the line currently experiences issues with trains being too busy, and the current rail infrastructure means that only one train an hour can travel along the northern section between Huddersfield and Barnsley. This, added to speed limits of 50mph or lower along some sections, all mean pretty long journey times – averaging about an hour and 15 minutes end to end.
This funding means Kirklees Council will be able to improve the infrastructure along this rail line, and improve access as well.
Kirklees Council be delivering this work in partnership with Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Network Rail, Northern Rail, Sheffield City Council, the South Yorkshire Combined Authority and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
It will include station improvements creating better access and waiting facilities, increasing the speed of travel along the line and upgrading the rail infrastructure – including doubling sections of track, which will allow for two trains to travel on the northern section of the line every hour, in both directions.
These improvements will mean a lot of benefits for the local economy and for people living in communities along the length of the route. In future, faster and more frequent trains will open up more opportunities to access work and leisure facilities.
Kirklees Council also hopes these changes will encourage more commuters to use the line, reducing road congestion and carbon emissions, thereby improving local air quality.
Councillor Cathy Scott, Leader of Kirklees Council and Cabinet Member for Transport, says: “Here in Kirklees, our connectedness is one of our greatest strengths.
“We not only have great towns and beautiful countryside, we’re also slap bang in the middle of some of the north’s most influential cities – and our rail links help connect us with those cities, with the rest of the north, beyond that, the whole of the UK.
“The benefits of improving these connections, both to individual residents and to our local economy as a whole, are huge.
“It’s also important to remember that this project is part of a much bigger picture in terms of developing Kirklees’ transport system, which will also help make public transport a more viable option across the district, tying in with our green agenda.
“For example, as Huddersfield is a stop on the Transpennine Route – which is currently being upgraded – there is also the opportunity to connect more people to this and other planned infrastructure projects. It’s very exciting to see so much transformation across Kirklees and beyond.”
Councillor Graham Turner, Cabinet Member for Finance and Regeneration, says: “I am delighted that the Levelling Up Fund bid for this project has been successful and will allow us to deliver significant improvements to the Penistone line and provide numerous benefits to businesses and communities along the route.
“Our transport links not only give us the opportunity to broaden the labour market for businesses in our area but provides easier and faster access to employment opportunities and leisure activities or events in the wider region.
“We submitted four Kirklees bids for Levelling Up funds, and all have now been successful. That is testament to the hard work our officers have put into designing and producing high quality bids. I want to thank Tracy Brabin, all the MPs, businesses and local people who supported us to put some brilliant plans together.
“We will keep working to bring investment to all parts of Kirklees and this great selection of ambitious plans will help us deliver the economic growth we all need.”
Funding boost for Huddersfield Open Market project
Kirklees Council’s plans for Huddersfield’s open market hall on Northumberland Street have been given a major boost – having been successful in a bid for Levelling Up Funding to support the £18 million scheme.
The market is a key part of the Huddersfield Blueprint.
This funding will allow Kirklees Council to revamp the market, maintaining and improving its current site on Northumberland Street.
The council will be restoring the Grade II* Listed structure and improving its surroundings. The council will also strengthen the new and improved market’s offering, by creating a better food offering, and by giving people more reasons to visit throughout the day and right into the evening. This will provide a new focal point in the town centre, and will also support surrounding businesses by encouraging extra footfall.
The Grade II* Listed building will be restored to provide a new indoor market, offering street food, shared seating, fresh bread, fruit and vegetables, and other general goods.
The new outdoor market will be located next to Tesco, with around 54 stalls and accompanying storage units.
Cllr Graham Turner, Cabinet Member for Finance & Regeneration, says: “This is great news for Huddersfield. The successful bid will kick start our plans to transform the open market hall and surrounding area and bring opportunities for the whole community.
“I want to thank all the MPs, businesses and local people who supported us, and the officers who have pulled these brilliant plans and exciting designs together. The awarding of this Levelling Up Funding means we can protect the future of the Grade II* Listed market hall and bring a boost to local businesses in the surrounding area.
“We will keep working to bring investment to all parts of Kirklees and this great selection of ambitious plans will help us deliver the economic growth we all need.”
Low-energy bioplastics developed with the University of Sheffield raise £2m investment
The world’s first low-energy, non-oil-based, high-performance bioplastic, developed with the University of Sheffield, has secured £2 million financing from Northern Gritstone.
Northern Gritstone, the investment business focused on university spinouts and science and technology-enabled businesses in the North of England, has announced a £2 million Series A investment into the bioplastics developer Floreon Technology Limited (Floreon), a spinout technology from the University of Sheffield.
Based in Hull, Floreon was founded by the entrepreneur Shaun Chatterton in 2011. CTO Dr Andrew Gill joined in 2013, having completed his PhD and a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with the University of Sheffield.
Floreon has developed a range of bioplastics made from plants, including corn and sugar cane, with performance comparable to Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), the common plastic polymer widely used in automotive, electronics and electrical appliances and toys.
With over 99 per cent of the world’s plastics produced from chemicals sourced from fossil fuels, bioplastics offer a sustainable alternative. The global bioplastics and biopolymers market is projected to reach $27.3 billion by 2027.
Unlike other bio-plastic products, Floreon’s materials have uniquely achieved the performance standards required for high-value applications and mass production. Through using plants to take carbon dioxide directly from the air and convert it into sugars that can be used as feedstock for the material, Floreon’s bioplastics production can reduce carbon emissions by up to seven times compared to traditional oil-based plastics.
Northern Gritstone’s investment will allow Floreon to expand its team and bring its products to market.
Shaun Chatterton, founder and chair of Floreon, said: “Everyday oil-based plastics are contributing to the global environmental crisis. Our vision is to offer brands an alternative product and through this transform the global plastics market. We are delighted to partner with Northern Gritstone. Their support, experience and investment will enable us to develop our team and deliver our commercial strategy.”
Duncan Johnson, CEO of Northern Gritstone, said: “Floreon has developed an innovative and unique technology that offers producers a genuine route to reducing the environmental impact of their plastic products. This truly fits into Northern Gritstone’s ‘Profit with Purpose’ philosophy helping to create the world class businesses of tomorrow from the world class science that exists in the North of England today.”
Sheffield receives more than £19m for Parkwood Springs plans
Sheffield City Council’s plans for Parkwood Springs have been awarded more than £19 million as part of the latest round of investment from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund.
The plans will see Parkwood Springs, which has been under utilised for more than a decade, transformed – further enhancing the Council’s ambition to create a Country Park in the city.
The award from central Government will pave the way for a regional leisure destination and a valued amenity for Sheffield residents – especially those living in communities close to Parkwood Springs.
Cllr Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Committee, said: “Sheffield is a city on the up and we’re looking forward to starting work on an exciting £19 million transformative regeneration to create a Country Park at Parkwood Springs
“These plans will open up access to the site, an obstacle that previously prevented developers from bringing forward plans for the redevelopment of the former Ski Village.
“We recognised that Parkwood Springs needed a new lease of life and have continued to push for the funding to support our ambition and to deliver for the city. Sheffield is the Outdoor City and our plans will turn Parkwood springs into a regional leisure destination that we can be proud of.”
Now the funding has been awarded for the project it will mean a number of key areas will be able to be delivered including:
Improved access to Parkwood Springs
Access to the site would be improved for all, with particular focus on increasing active travel and public transport. It will also see improved approaches to the site with ‘Grey to Green’ type investment used elsewhere in the city.
Site Clearance, clean up and enabling work
The area of the former ski slope would be prepared for future development as a regional leisure destination with all derelict remains from the previous ski slope removed.
Investment in trails and wayfinding
The new funding will be used to deliver new and upgraded existing walking paths and mountain bike trails. The council will also be able to extend the area of the site which can be accessed and make the whole site more accessible to people of all ages and abilities. A new visitor centre and bike hub along with information boards, event space and improved boundaries will allow Parkwood Springs to strengthen the appeal as a destination in its own right.
Cllr Ben Miskell added: “This project will be able to breathe new life into the landscape and return it to the people of Sheffield. Once all the work is complete Parkwood Springs will be a fantastic place for residents and visitors of all ages and abilities to enjoy and I’m really looking forward to seeing it start to take shape.
“There is still work to be done before the first spade can be put into the ground, including road and infrastructure planning but once all those vital elements are complete, the people of Sheffield will be able to see the area come to life once again.”
Waterline Summit returns to the Humber
November saw the return of The Waterline summit, the Humber’s largest decarbonisation event, where businesses large and small come together with academics, industry experts and young people to learn, discuss and tackle the climate challenge.
The year’s event closed with an informative panel discussion about shaping a sustainable Humber, featuring panellists from Humber Energy Board and the Humber Freeport. Hosted by Richard Gwilliam, UK BECCS Programme Director for Drax, speakers included our own Jo Barnes, Managing Director of Sewell Estates and board member of Yorkshire Energy Park and Humber Freeport, Katie Hedges of CATCH, Chris Gilbert of Phillips 66, Simon Green of Humber Freeport and Harry Jones, Freeports Programme Director for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
Discussion centred around the Humber Freeport, which has three main roles: setting the environment for new investment, accelerating innovation and allocating seed capital to companies aligned with the Freeport.
Harry Jones, the UK’s Freeports Programme Director, was in the area to see the improvements that the Humber Freeport is already inspiring. He said visiting the Humber was an inspiration to his work across the country. “The path to net zero has to go through the Humber,” he said, adding that after working on decarbonisation papers in Whitehall, it was motivating to visit the Humber and see the work happening in practice.
One of the flagship projects highlighted was a Sewell Group investment project, Yorkshire Energy Park, a next generation energy and technology business park under development to the East of Hull. An 86 hectare site and £200m investment, attracting investment from the energy, data, technology and manufacturing sectors, the scheme has the potential to create 4,480 jobs, along with apprenticeship and training opportunities for local people. The project is aiming to be sustainable in its build, as well as the industries involved, with land set aside for wildlife and local community groups.
A lot of the conversation revolved around discussion of the skills shortage for many industries involved with decarbonisation, with all panellists keen to see further incentives for companies to take on apprentices and trainees.
Jo Barnes spoke about how Sewell Group has pledged to triple the company’s intake of graduates, apprentices, trainees and work experience participants through their GATEWay scheme. She said that any decarbonisation work by business and industry needed to reach out to the region’s more deprived communities, ensuring any opportunities for work and upskilling were made available to these sections of society.
