Rail disruption expected as Lincolnshire crossings undergo upgrades

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Rail disruption expected as Lincolnshire crossings undergo upgrades

Businesses reliant on East Midlands Railway (EMR) services through Lincolnshire should prepare for travel disruption between Saturday 31 May and Sunday 8 June as Network Rail upgrades four level crossings in the region.

The nearly £1 million investment will affect crossings at Holton le Moor, Brigg, Butterswood, and Little London. To facilitate the works, rail services will be suspended between Cleethorpes and Barnetby, with replacement buses operating during this period.

Key service alterations include the termination of Leicester to Grimsby/Cleethorpes trains at Lincoln, with buses covering the remainder of the route. Additionally, no trains will run between Cleethorpes and Barton-upon-Humber; replacement buses will serve all intermediate stations.

The upgrades are part of a broader programme aimed at enhancing safety and improving long-term network reliability. Businesses and commuters are advised to check journey times and plan for delays during the affected dates.

Level Best expands operations to support national growth

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Level Best expands operations to support national growth

Concrete flooring contractor Level Best is ramping up investment at its East Yorkshire headquarters to support growing demand from industrial and retail clients across the UK.

The business has completed a £1 million upgrade of its premises in Swinefleet Common, converting former agricultural buildings into expanded office and warehouse space. The development features the UK’s first installation of a joint-free concrete floor utilizing the firm’s latest product offering, designed for clients in food production and logistics who require hygienic, low-maintenance surfaces.

Founded in 2017, Level Best now services clients nationwide, with recent projects including flooring for the Siemens Gamesa blade factory and a primary international food production site in Hull, as well as new industrial units in Hull and Essex.

To meet the growing demand for cost-effective refurbishment over new build, the firm has also expanded its service capabilities with the purchase of a concrete crusher. This move supports clients seeking to enhance sustainability, minimise downtime, and avoid the higher costs associated with relocating to new premises, particularly in urban areas where land prices are high.

Level Best now employs over 60 staff across its head office and field teams, operating a fleet of specialist equipment including laser screeds, power floats, and floor grinding machines. The firm reported a turnover of £14.5 million in its last financial year.

KFC ramps up UK expansion with £1.5bn investment

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KFC ramps up UK expansion with £1.5bn investment

KFC is committing £1.5 billion to expand and modernise its operations across the UK and Ireland over the next decade, targeting long-term growth in the quick-service restaurant sector.

The investment includes plans to open 500 new restaurants, adding to the 1,000 outlets already in operation across the region. The fast food chain, which currently employs around 30,000 people, aims to create an additional 7,000 jobs as part of this expansion.

Alongside new openings, KFC will upgrade 200 existing restaurants with refreshed designs and enhanced digital capabilities, reflecting the changing expectations of consumers regarding in-store experiences and mobile ordering.

The move is part of a broader growth strategy amid rising demand for fast food, with the UK fried chicken market now estimated to be worth £3.1 billion. Yorkshire is among the areas identified for new openings, presenting supply chain and franchise opportunities for regional operators.

KFC’s investment aligns with a trend of major QSR brands re-evaluating physical footprint strategies to balance convenience, digital innovation, and evolving customer preferences.

Hospice restructures as rising costs bite

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Hospice restructures as rising costs bite

Kirkwood Hospice in Huddersfield has implemented significant cutbacks in response to sustained financial pressure. To stabilise operations, it has reduced its inpatient capacity by 25% and cut nearly 30 roles.

The charity, which provides palliative care across Kirklees, will now serve approximately 1,300 patients annually, down from over 2,000, following a cost-saving drive aimed at offsetting £1.7 million in budget shortfalls. The hospice’s inpatient unit has been downsized from 16 to 12 beds, while community-based services will continue at reduced capacity.

With staffing costs consuming the bulk of its £11 million annual budget, Kirkwood cited inflationary pressures and increased employer National Insurance contributions as key drivers behind the restructuring. Only a quarter of its funding is publicly sourced, leaving the hospice heavily reliant on fundraising and donations.

The workforce adjustment includes 19 redundancies, nine staff shifting to part-time contracts, and additional early retirements. Leadership said the changes are designed to preserve core clinical services while prioritising patients with the most complex needs.

Kirkwood’s move reflects growing pressure on third-sector healthcare providers, many grappling with rising costs, constrained public funding, and volatile donor income.

TL Dallas strengthens sustainability ties through Swinton Estate initiative

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TL Dallas strengthens sustainability ties through Swinton Estate initiative

Insurance broker TL Dallas has joined Nourish, a corporate sustainability programme led by the Swinton Estate in North Yorkshire. The programme aims to help businesses develop environmental resilience and carbon reduction strategies.

The partnership gives TL Dallas access to the Swinton Estate’s environmental initiatives, including its Carbon Plus credit scheme and a suite of local investment opportunities for biodiversity, conservation, and community development.

Through the estate’s Climate Action Academy, the firm’s teams will participate in hands-on, nature-based training to support employee well-being and carbon literacy. The academy also runs forums featuring expert-led environmental learning tailored to SMEs.

New consumer law tightens rules for online businesses

April Lara
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New consumer law tightens rules for online businesses

Leeds-based businesses trading online are urged to review their sales practices after introducing the UK’s new Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. The legislation significantly expands consumer protection laws, particularly targeting misleading pricing tactics and inauthentic online reviews.

The new Act replaces the 2008 Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations and introduces clear requirements for digital commerce. It explicitly bans practices such as ‘drip pricing’—where fees are added late in the purchase process—and the use or facilitation of fake or incentivised reviews. Businesses must now display full pricing upfront, including mandatory charges like booking or membership fees.

The Act outlines 32 specific unfair practices, with regulatory enforcement under the Competition and Markets Authority. Firms that fail to comply could face fines of up to £300,000 or 10% of global turnover, whichever is higher.

The CMA expects businesses to establish transparent review policies, assess risk regularly, and proactively address manipulation. These changes apply to businesses of all sizes, including SMEs, and reflect a broader effort to ensure trust and fairness in the digital marketplace.

Commercial legal experts are advising businesses to review their policies and digital practices immediately to avoid potential penalties.

Partnership with Holtec to help grow nuclear workforce in South Yorkshire

Tess Egginton
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Partnership with Holtec to help grow nuclear workforce in South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire’s mayor, Oliver Coppard, has welcomed a cooperation, skills and supply chain agreement signed between South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and Holtec Britain. The announcement paves the way to help train and grow the nuclear workforce within the region. This partnership comes after South Yorkshire was announced as the home of Holtec’s new planned Small Modular Reactor (SMR factory) in 2024. The factory represents a major £1.5bn investment and is set to create thousands of highly skilled jobs. The intention and purpose of the agreement is to establish a framework for collaboration in support of Holtec’s manufacturing facility plans. Through the agreement, SYMCA and Holtec will collaborate in the following key areas:
  • Skills, planning and workforce development: SYMCA’s skills team will work with Holtec, partnering with colleges and other educational institutions to ensure the regional workforce is equipped with the skills required
  • South Yorkshire Energy: This partnership will contribute to the growth and direction of South Yorkshire Energy
  • Investment Zone funding: Should the chosen site of Holtec’s proposed manufacturing facility be located in a designated Investment Zone, both parties will work collaboratively to unlock access to a share of the potential £80m funding available
  • Alignment with SYMCA’s Economic Strategy: The collaboration will align with SYMCA’s broader economic strategy, which prioritises the growth of nuclear expertise, infrastructure and supply chain capabilities
  • Supply chain opportunities: SYMCA and Holtec will work together to help develop understanding and awareness of the opportunities of Holtec’s SMR programme from a South Yorkshire perspective.
South Yorkshire’s mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: “In South Yorkshire, we’re building on hundreds of years of innovation and engineering heritage to create world leading facilities, skills and expertise; assets that will power the clean energy transition in the UK and beyond. “We’re right at the cutting edge of the new nuclear, hydrogen and sustainable aviation sectors, and proud to be home to the largest clean tech sector in the UK. This partnership with Holtec means we’ll be working together to help train and grow the new nuclear workforce our region, and our country, needs. “It’s another step in our mission to make South Yorkshire a leader in clean, green energy, creating thousands of new jobs and opportunities and giving our communities the skills and opportunities to stay near and go far.” Gareth Thomas, director of Holtec Britain, said: “Holtec has been working in the UK’s nuclear ecosystem for over 25 years. Today – together with South Yorkshire – we intend to cement our UK footprint – creating high-quality local jobs, supply chain opportunities and partnerships that will help the region and the nation grow and decarbonise. “South Yorkshire’s proud industrial heritage, skilled workforce, and commitment to clean-tech and innovation make it an ideal home for a Holtec advanced manufacturing facility to supply the nuclear and defence sectors. Holtec is working to finalize its factory business plan to support its Final Investment Decision, based on its UK and international order book. “Together, we will further strengthen the UK, and South Yorkshire’s, position at the forefront of clean energy technology – create thousands of skilled, highly-paid engineering local jobs while supporting thousands more in the UK’s wider manufacturing supply chains.”

Carter Towler secures White Rose Park property management instruction

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Carter Towler secures White Rose Park property management instruction
Carter Towler, the independent chartered surveyors, has been appointed by Munroe K Luxembourg SA to oversee the management of White Rose Park. Spanning 565,000 sq ft and situated next to the White Rose Shopping Centre in Leeds, the business and education campus is the largest single asset now under Carter Towler’s management. Commenting on the appointment, director James Skirrow said: “We are immensely proud to have been chosen to support the future development of White Rose Park. This is a significant addition to our portfolio, and we are excited to contribute to the ongoing success of such an innovative business and education hub.” Spanning 26 acres, White Rose Park comprises nine buildings ranging from 10,000 to 250,000 sq ft. Key office tenants include CAPITA, NHS Shared Business Services, NG Bailey, Hisense, NHS LCH, O2, DAZN and Samsung together with 2 higher educational colleges (Broomfield SILC & Elliott Hudson College), a creche and HUB restaurant/Starbucks. David Aspin, CEO of Munroe K, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Carter Towler at such a pivotal stage in the park’s evolution. We have worked tirelessly to create a unique environment and community, and having their expert property management team on board will help take things to the next level. “We are redefining the concept of a business park by integrating business, wellbeing and academia to develop an ESG-focused talent and knowledge hub. Our aim is to foster an environment where innovation and commerce intersect, inspiring a community of forward-thinkers and industry disruptors.” Carter Towler’s 30-strong property management team will be responsible for a range of services, including tenant relations, rent collection, service charge management, contractor supervision, energy and insurance procurement, and health and safety compliance.

Sheffield semiconductor start-up raises £2.5m

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Sheffield semiconductor start-up raises £2.5m
A start-up that aims to win the race to develop the world’s first ‘memory safe’ computer chip has raised £2.5m in a funding round led by Mercia Ventures. The investment was from NPIF II – Mercia Equity Finance, which is managed by Mercia as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II), and also angel investors from the UK and Silicon Valley. SCI Semiconductor, which brings together leading industry figures, has already signed up a number of key customers including Google Research. The funding will enable it to build a team of engineers in Sheffield and bring its product to market. SCI aims to resolve the problem of ‘memory safety’ which is the key factor in around 70% of cyber attacks. Traditional programming languages – on which Microsoft’s Windows and many industrial operating systems are based – allow memory to be freely accessed, which provides flexibility for software developers but also creates vulnerabilities. Coding errors or flaws can be exploited by hackers or bring down the entire system – as in the 2024 CrowdStrike event when a faulty software update affected companies worldwide. Current attempts to achieve memory safety, such as transitioning to more modern languages or introducing stricter development methods, are often too costly or impractical. SCI’s chip will enforce security by dividing memory into compartments and tightly controlling how it is accessed. The product, which would be used in conjunction with open source software and development tools, would reduce cybersecurity costs and remove the need for constant patching. SCI Semiconductor was founded in 2022 by Haydn Povey and Krishna Anne. Haydn has over 30 years’ experience in the semiconductor industry, including 10 years at ARM, and is the founder of Secure Thingz which was sold to IAR Systems Group for £30m in 2018. Krishna, who is based in Palo Alto, has held senior roles in tech companies including Secure Thingz, and is the founder of DataTrails. They have been joined by Dr David Jackson and Prof John Goodacre from the University of Manchester, and Dr David Chisnall from the University of Cambridge who are renowned as leaders in chip technology. The company, which has secured over £1m in government grants to help develop the technology, currently has a team of over 20. It now plans to set up a base in Sheffield and recruit a further 20 engineers. Haydn Povey, CEO, said: “Cybersecurity is second only to global conflict in terms of factors affecting the economy. Memory safe chips have been shown to prevent 70% of all attacks and would enable organisations to continue using existing software with complete peace of mind. “Developing a new generation of chips here in the UK will also help to ensure supply chain security and restore the country’s position as a leader in semiconductor technology.” Will Schaffer, investment director at Mercia Ventures, added: “Memory safety has been a problem for years but until now has been a secondary priority. However with the world becoming more dangerous, government and industry have woken up to the dangers. “Despite collaboration between the big tech companies, no one has yet managed to build a silicon chip that addresses the issue. The funding will help SCI to win the race for memory safety and deliver next generation security.”

Smailes Goldie walks the extra mile for Yorkshire Cancer Research

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Smailes Goldie walks the extra mile for Yorkshire Cancer Research
Smailes Goldie, a chartered accountancy firm, is supporting Yorkshire Cancer Research by taking part in the We Walk for Yorkshire challenge this May. Throughout the month, team members across all five of the business’s Yorkshire offices will be collectively walking 1,000 miles with the goal of raising at least £1,000 to fund lifesaving cancer research. Leading the charge are colleagues from the Hull office: Rachel Underwood (business development manager), Matt Fox (partner), Rachel May (head of audit and compliance), Jayne Hussey (personal tax manager), and Darren Sanderson (consultant). Trainee accountants Eve Shelton and Ben Watkins are representing the firm from the Scarborough office, while fellow trainee Isabella Fink and accounts assistant Andrea Holliday will represent the Selby office. Erin Allsopp, a manager based at the Pickering office, will also be taking part, joined by Alison Dodgson (accounts manager) and Sally Sleightholme (accounts senior) from the Kirkbymoorside office. Rachel Underwood, business development manager at Smailes Goldie, said: “As a Yorkshire-based firm, we are committed to giving back and having a positive impact on our community. “Someone in Yorkshire is diagnosed with cancer every 17 minutes, so this is a cause very close to our hearts. “We are thrilled to have team members from all five of our Yorkshire offices taking on the We Walk for Yorkshire challenge. Together, we can help fund research, improve treatments, and save lives across the region.” Yorkshire has some of the highest cancer rates in England, with residents more likely to be diagnosed with, and die from, the disease than in most other parts of the country. Yorkshire Cancer Research funds vital research and pioneers lifesaving treatment for the benefit of people in Yorkshire. To sponsor the team, visit the Yorkshire Cancer Research website.
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