LBA withdraws application for terminal replacement
Leeds Bradford Airport has announced it is withdrawing its planning application for a replacement terminal building following excessive delays and the decision to call in plans by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
With large investment in the scheme so far, airport bosses say they are not prepared to commit a further uncapped sum over an indefinite timeframe into a public inquiry process when their focus needs to be on modernising the airport for the future.
The airport will instead turn its attention to developing the extension to the existing terminal, originally approved by Leeds City Council in 2019, to enable it to meet the rapidly increasing passenger demand as the aviation sector recovers from the pandemic.
The replacement terminal plans, which would have delivered a purpose designed, BREEAM excellent rated terminal building, were about meeting demand already approved under the 2019 consent in a more sustainable way, allowing the airport to achieve its environmental targets more quickly within an ambitious new development.
LBA remains committed to delivering its 2030 Carbon Net Zero Roadmap and to creating a modern, decarbonised regional UK airport within the extension scheme.
Vincent Hodder, CEO of Leeds Bradford Airport, said: “It is with regret that we have made the decision to withdraw LBA’s application for the development of a new replacement terminal.
“As the travel and aviation industry continues to recover from the impacts of the pandemic, LBA needs to be able to respond to rapidly increasing demand within the next few years.
“I would like to thank everyone who has supported us in the planning process, from the general public to the business community and councils across Yorkshire. Whilst this is a setback for our airport and region, we remain committed to investing in LBA to be an outstanding, decarbonised, modern airport for the future.”
“My team and I are optimistic about the recovery from the pandemic and about the future of Leeds Bradford Airport”
Manufacturer offers vital solution to businesses facing difficulty from CO2 shortage
UK beverage manufacturers using CO2 during the production process can safeguard their future, mitigate supply issues, and ensure their products make it onto store shelves through the addition of an innovative solution-based carbonation aid that enhances the end product.
A Yorkshire-based manufacturing business that specialises in keeping carbonated drinks fizzier for longer is offering a vital business lifeline to soft drinks brands and manufacturers facing increasing costs arising from CO2 supply issues.
Experts at global business CO2Sustain, pioneers of the carbonation aid CO2 Sustain®, have seen an unprecedented 200% increase in enquiries since the start of this year after being inundated with requests for help as many soft drink manufacturers and bottling businesses look to protect dwindling carbon dioxide stocks. CO2 Sustain® enables manufacturers to use less CO2 in their carbonated drinks with their innovative bubble technology.
Less CO2 is required during the manufacturing and bottling processes enabling more beverage to be produced without using as much CO2, preserving valuable stocks of the gas as the shortage continues to worsen. CO2 Sustain® can enable manufacturers to make 10 – 15% more beverages from the same amount of CO2.
The clever carbonation technology ensures that the same carbonation sensory profile is achieved with less added CO2.
Scarce CO2 supplies continue to prompt fears of a soft drinks shortage and concerns in other priority areas such as healthcare and food manufacture, where CO2 is a vital resource.
Sources at CO2Sustain report that some customers in the UK soft drinks industry are now having to pay ever increasing prices for CO2.
CO2 Sustain has ramped up production of its patented carbonation aid, CO2 Sustain® fourfold in the first quarter of this year as soft drinks manufacturers look to make their CO2 supplies go further.
From its manufacturing base in Leeds, CO2Sustain’s team of technical innovations chemists developed the preservative-free carbonation aid to increase the carbon dioxide content and extend the carbonation shelf life of soft drinks, using an exclusive formulation.
Simply added during the manufacturing process, CO2 Sustain® works by discouraging bubbles from merging into larger bubbles. This controls foam during filling of bottles and increases the perception of fizziness in the finished beverage.
Jonathan Stott, business manager at CO2Sustain, said: “Increasingly we are seeing manufacturers actively looking to reduce the amount of CO2 used per beverage to make the amount they procure go further. They are also looking to reduce waste and in some cases find alternative gases where possible with the likelihood of CO2 supplies being prioritised for manufacturers in healthcare and food production sectors as the crisis escalates.
“This is a challenging time for UK beverage manufacturers. This is exacerbated by spiralling production costs including raw materials, labour, energy, transportation and delivery. CO2 Sustain® presents a viable business solution that has been specifically formulated to make sure drinks don’t lose carbonation and stay fizzy for longer, meaning less carbon dioxide is required in the first place and less is also wasted. This is proving to be a valuable business benefit for many of our customers, especially with the added uncertainty on global supplies and spiralling transportation costs. The availability of CO2 Sustain® is good news for the UK carbonated drinks market as it allows drinks manufacturers and brands to formulate their products by using up less of their CO2 reserves and ensure supply levels of their products can be maintained for retail.”
Candidate shortages drive softer increase in recruitment activity in February
UK recruitment consultancies registered a further marked increase in hiring activity during February, according to the latest KPMG and REC, UK Report on Jobs survey. That said, permanent staff appointments expanded at the softest rate for 11 months, while temp billings growth also slowed, as panel members stated that candidate shortages restricted their ability to fill roles. Notably, total candidate availability declined at a sharp and accelerated rate that was the quickest since last November. At the same time, vacancy growth picked up to a three-month high. A combination of robust demand for workers and low supply led to further upward pressure on rates of starting pay. Salaries for new permanent joiners rose at the second-fastest rate in over 24 years of data collection, while temp pay also increased sharply.
The report is compiled by IHS Markit from responses to questionnaires sent to a panel of around 400 UK recruitment and employment consultancies.
Softer, but still rapid increase in hiring activity – UK recruitment consultancies recorded a further robust increase in hiring activity during February amid reports of rising workloads at clients and greater confidence in the outlook. That said, permanent placement growth eased to an 11-month low and temp billings also expanded at a softer pace, with recruiters frequently stating that candidate shortages had limited their ability to fill roles.
Candidate supply falls at quickest rate for three months – The total availability of candidates fell at the sharpest rate since last November in February, driven by steeper falls in both permanent and temp staff supply. Lower candidate numbers were generally attributed to ongoing tight labour market conditions and robust demand for staff. There were also reports that the pool of candidates was limited due to lingering pandemic-related uncertainty and fewer foreign applicants.
Vacancy growth accelerates for first time since last July – Overall vacancies expanded at the quickest rate for three months in February. This marked the first acceleration of growth since last July, and was driven by sharper rises in demand for both permanent and temporary staff.
Pay pressures sharpen in February – Recruiters continued to see intense competition for workers in February, leading to further steep increases in rates of starting pay for both permanent and short-term staff. Notably, permanent starters’ salaries rose at the second-sharpest pace since data collection began in October 1997.
Regional and Sector Variations – Data broken down by region showed that permanent staff appointments expanded at softer rates across all four English areas except the North of England, which also saw the sharpest overall increase.
The steepest increase in temp billings was recorded in London, followed closely by the North of England. That said, all four monitored English regions noted slower expansions that at the start of the year.
Historically marked increases in vacancies continued to be seen across both the public and private sectors during February. Growth of demand was strongest for permanent staff in the private sector. The slowest, but still steep, rise in vacancies was signalled for public sector permanent roles.
Sharp increases in permanent staff demand were seen across all ten monitored job categories midway through the first quarter. IT & Computing led the upturn, followed closely by Hotel & Catering. Secretarial/Clerical saw the softest increase.
Hotel & Catering topped the rankings in terms of temporary staff demand in February, followed by Blue Collar. Nonetheless, historically sharp rises in vacancies were also seen across the remaining eight categories monitored by the survey.
Commenting on the latest survey results, Claire Warnes, Head of Education, Skills and Productivity at KPMG UK, said:“While recruitment activity has slowed slightly, employers across all sectors continued to hire energetically during February, as their workloads increased and vacancy growth accelerated for the first time since last summer. But the lack of suitable candidates continued and fuelled yet further increases in starting salaries. The IT sector led the increase in demand for permanent staff, with hotel and catering close behind, possibly reflecting the reduction in pandemic measures across society. A sustained focus on skills shortages is required if all sectors of the economy are to leave winter behind and head into spring with confidence in the jobs market.”
Neil Carberry, Chief Executive of the REC, said:”Candidate availability has now been dropping for a year, which shows the scale of the labour shortage the UK faces. Recruiters are filling record numbers of posts, but demand is still rising. Those firms that are meeting their needs are working more collaboratively with their recruiters to get their offer to candidates right. Meanwhile, government can help by working with business to support people back into the labour market and address skills gaps. At a time when firms and workers are hard-pressed by inflation, making sure businesses can invest in wages and training matters. Ramping up National Insurance is not the right way to go.”
NatWest pledges support to Lincolnshire sustainable materials manufacturer
NatWest has pledged its backing to a revolutionary materials manufacturer that launched during COP26 in November.
Incredible Husk, based in Grantham in Lincolnshire, manufacturers a sustainable material from the husk of food products that works as an alternative to plastic, leather, cardboard and other environmentally harmful and unsustainable materials.
Led by CEO Keith Ridgeway, Incredible Husk’s team of scientists and experts have devised a process that uses rice, nuts and coffee husks to create a carbon-negative alternative that could help transform the country’s waste. The idea has already attracted interest from several household names.
The business was awarded Gold and Silver respectively for ‘Environmental Development’ and ‘Environmental Sustainability’ at the Green World Awards, which aim to find the world’s greenest countries, companies and communities. The business was also appointed Green World Ambassadors during the London-based ceremony on 15 November 2021.
NatWest’s support for the manufacturer follows the launch of the bank’s ‘Springboard to Sustainability’ report, which found that UK’s six million SMEs could help achieve 50% of the UK’s net-zero decarbonisation goals.
It also found that SMEs could create up to 130,000 new jobs, produce around 30,000 new businesses resulting in an estimated £160 billion opportunity for the UK economy.
Keith Ridgeway, CEO of Incredible Husk, said: “We have huge ambitions for a start-up company and want to target the leaders in every industry to help them make the transition to decarbonisation and inspire others in their sector to do the same.
“Our product is revolutionary, and we believe we have the potential to decarbonize entire sectors by 2035. However, we also understand the importance of rolling out these vital sustainable practices without disrupting entire supply chains, so the process needs to be gradual and well-thought-out.
“It’s fantastic to have received support from NatWest to help us fulfil our ambitions and deliver our plans. The bank is leading the way in terms of empowering and enabling sustainable SMEs and it’s great to work with a company that shares our vision for a greener future. The collaboration is truly authentic to our values.”
Amber Launder, local enterprise manager at NatWest, said: “Climate change is the biggest single issue facing humanity today, threatening lives and livelihoods across all spheres of society. NatWest’s ambition is to be a leading bank in helping to address climate change, primarily through the support we provide to our customers and bringing stakeholders together.
“Keith and his team truly deserve to be celebrated for their efforts in driving forward plans for decarbonisation internationally and across industries. It’s great they’ve been recognised so publicly through the World Green Awards and NatWest is happy to play a part in their next chapter – I look forward to seeing what’s next for them.”
Labour market hits two-year high as economy emerges from pandemic
The strength of the UK labour market has returned to pre-pandemic levels for the first time, according to the latest Business Trends report from accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP.
BDO’s Employment Index rose for a fourth consecutive month to 110.75 in February, representing a monthly gain of 0.77 points. This is the highest level the index has seen since February 2020, when it reached 112.86 ahead of the UK’s first coronavirus lockdown. The index now sits well above the 95 level which indicates growth.
The jump in the Employment Index has been driven by the lifting of covid restrictions and associated economic recovery. As businesses fully re-open and resume normal operations, they have been looking to hire more staff to cope with increased demand. A shortage of workers due to Brexit and the pandemic has also made competition for employees fierce. Together, these factors have placed upward pressure on employment figures, reflected in BDO’s Employment Index.
The lifting of the remaining coronavirus restrictions has also led to a rise in BDO’s Optimism Index, which increased 0.9 points to 105.81 in February, marking a second consecutive month of improvement following December’s Omicron-related dip.
This rise was primarily driven by the BDO Services Optimism Index, which covers retail, hospitality and leisure among other industries. The index jumped by 0.94 points in February to reach 105.24 – its highest reading since July 2021 – reflecting the impact that remaining restrictions had on consumer-facing businesses.
However, this rise in optimism could be short lived. The impacts of Russia’s war on Ukraine are expected to weigh heavily on inflationary pressures, compounding existing concerns around the cost of living, which could see confidence decline in the coming months.
Commenting on the results, Kaley Crossthwaite, Partner at BDO LLP, said: “Propped up by the government’s furlough scheme, the UK jobs market was largely resilient throughout the pandemic. As we emerge from a series of lockdowns and return to normality, the jobs market is now moving from resilience to growth, reflected in February’s buoyant figures.
“While it’s promising to see growth in business optimism throughout February, this could be short lived as inflation continues to rise at a faster rate than wages. Inflationary pressures are set to mount further over the coming months, with energy and fuel prices key drivers of this increase.”
CTS UK strengthens team with two senior appointments
CTS UK, the North Yorkshire-based business supply chain specialists, have strengthened their team with two senior appointments.
Adam Booth and Tom Mundy join CTS in the wake of a record-breaking year.
Adam, who previously worked for the Heatons Group in the North West is CTS UK’s new Sales Director, while Tom, formerly of Bedale-based Aspect CPM, has been appointed Strategic Account Manager.
Howard Gill, CTS UK’s Managing Director, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Adam and Tom to the company. These are two very significant appointments, which will help to build on the substantial progress we have made during the past two years.
“Despite the challenges of the global pandemic, CTS is expanding quickly, with increased turnover and profits in 2021, new premises in Northallerton, new clients and brand-new state-of-the-art machinery. The future is bright and we look forward to both Adam and Tom playing a very important part in our progress over the next few years.
“The journey of CTS is a long-term project, which demands the fullest commitment from all our staff. Adam and Tom, with their experience and expertise, are perfect for their challenging and pivotal roles.”
Adam Booth explained: “I pride myself on my drive, passion and work ethic and I am determined to take CTS UK’s sales operation to the next level. The key aims of my sales strategy are to create new business, explore new sectors and to promote new categories.
“There is no doubt that I will be working with a very talented and committed sales team and it will be a pleasure to lead them. This is a tremendously exciting opportunity for me. CTS are one of the most respected companies in the PPE and workwear sector in the UK and I am proud to be joining a close-knit and quality team.”
Tom Mundy added: “This is a dream job for me. Coming from nearby Masham, I have watched the company’s amazing progress over the past two years with huge admiration. It will be an honour to be part of the company’s exciting journey going forwards and I am proud to be working with such high-quality clients as Sports Direct and WS Transport and focussing on how to provide the best possible service for them in terms of speed and quality.
“I am looking forward to expanding and developing CTS UK’s revenue stream in the promotional and merchandise sector. Our ability to meet our clients’ needs swiftly and effectively, thanks to state-of-the-art machinery, means we are exceptionally well placed to do this. My experience in this sector will also be crucial in achieving this objective.”
Howard Gill explained: “Our diverse sectors include PPE, uniform, consumables, warehousing and fulfilment. We are looking to grow through e-commerce channels, offering warehousing and fulfilment. With online retail booming, we have also seen an opportunity to launch seasonal and reactive clothing on Amazon and fulfilling in-house. Adam and Tom will both be crucial in maximising these opportunities.”
Expansion drives strengthening of team
Chemical manufacturer and distributor, Airedale Chemical, has strengthened its dedicated procurement team with the appointment of two new positions, reflecting the increase in demand experienced over the last 24 months.
David Harker joins the company as procurement manager and with more than six years of experience in manufacturing and construction buying, he will assist in the development of purchasing systems to maximise efficiency throughout the department.
He explains: “The procurement department has become increasingly busy and it was clear that the team needed additional support. I will be managing relationships with existing and potential suppliers which are absolutely key to our success and can make a huge difference to keeping the continuation of supply of key chemicals which are essential to retaining the trust and custom of our clients.
“The aftermath of Covid is still affecting the industry and when a factory in China is forced to shut down, the effects are far-reaching. There are also ongoing challenges with HGV drivers affecting all areas of industry and commerce in this country and we’re also seeing a delay in containers being returned to China from UK ports. Being part of an established and trusted family-run business really helps in ensuring we can build a strong supply chain with companies that are willing to work with us and be flexible to overcome challenges and issues.”
David is joined by Cecily Moffat who fills the role of procurement administrator with five years in industry since graduating from Nottingham Trent University with a degree in property planning and development.
Cecily says: “I am bringing several years of administrative experience to the role which will help with the smooth running of this very busy department, but I am really looking forward to the role developing over the coming weeks and months and learning more about the function of procurement in the business and becoming more involved in the procurement of goods and services into Airedale Chemical.”
‘Women in Transport’ hub to be set up in York
A new northern base for the national Women in Transport organisation is to be set up in York, thanks to a successful bid by the council.
Women in Transport campaigns for and supports women in the transport sector where only 20% of workers are currently female.
The new Yorkshire branch or ‘hub’ will mean face-to-face meetings, training and networking for women in transport industries across the region.
The news follows several years of work by the council to encourage girls to take up education, training and apprenticeships in science, technology, engineering and maths subjects (STEM), in partnership with the universities and industry.
It also follows the decision to base the new headquarters of Active Travel England in York and comes as work to bring Great British Railways to York gains momentum.
Women in Transport were impressed by the council’s record in developing smart transport, hyper hubs and major projects such as York Station frontage and York Central.
Councillor Andy D’Agorne, Deputy Leader of the council and Executive Member for Transport said: “This is fantastic news for York and is testament to leading work we’ve been doing in areas of transport from zero emission bus fleet to active travel. I would encourage anyone keen to promote better representation of women in the transport industry to get involved in this organisation.
“York has such strong transport heritage through its connection to the railway industry, but it’s important that we are continuing to look firmly to the future of smart transport and active travel. This new development is yet another achievement to be proud of.”
Sonya Byers, Chief Executive of Women in Transport, said: “As a leadership team, we have been very impressed by City of York’s commitment to challenging the lack of representation within the workplace and transport industry.
“Our network opens up opportunities for networking, support and professional development. We’re delighted to see this new Hub emerging to support the Council’s ambitious plans for the future including the UK’s first Gender Neutral Transport Plan.
“I very much look forward to welcoming our new members to Women in Transport and seeing how the Hub evolves and progresses to support greater gender balance in the region and advance more women in transport.”
Carrie Brook, a project manager in the council’s transport team and the city’s lead for Women in Transport York, said: “Having worked in the transport sector for five years, I’m delighted that Women in Transport have chosen York as their northern base.
“It will give women across the region the opportunity to get involved in and benefit from a wide range of opportunities including mentoring and development support. I’d encourage anyone who’s considering a role in the transport sector to get involved. It really is a great option and there is such a wide range of careers available.”
Full steam ahead for Wakefield’s bid to land national rail headquarters
Wakefield will be West Yorkshire’s entrant in a bid to secure the investment for the Great British Railways headquarters, a competition announced last October by the Secretary of State for Transport, to find a suitable location outside of London.
Backed by local authority leaders and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Wakefield will submit a proposal for the headquarters to be located in the heart of the city centre.
That decision has now been approved by Wakefield Council and a formal Expression of Interest – the first stage in the process – will be submitted by the deadline of 16 March 2022.
Councillor Darren Byford, Wakefield Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economic Growth and Property, said: “With the backing of the West Yorkshire Mayor and the region’s leaders we are delighted to be bidding for such an opportunity that aims to bring the headquarters and lots of well-paid jobs to Wakefield.
“In order to boost the economic performance of our city we must broaden the city centre office market, providing a quality supply of office accommodation that will increase footfall.
“The Great British Railways HQ project will be a key enabler in supporting this and the Wakefield bid will focus on a key development that has been designed with exactly this kind of opportunity in mind.”
The shortlist will be announced in May.
New sustainability centre will bring region together to lead drive for net-zero
A new translational research centre to help decarbonise organisations across South Yorkshire has been announced.
The South Yorkshire Sustainability Centre, announced by South Yorkshire Mayor Dan Jarvis, will bring together researchers, businesses and organisations across the region to co-design solutions to regional and global sustainability challenges and work towards net zero emissions by 2050.
The South Yorkshire Sustainability Centre is led by the University of Sheffield through a partnership that includes the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, the four South Yorkshire local authorities, Sheffield Hallam University, and a range of private and voluntary sector organisations.
Projects that will be coordinated by the Centre include the optimisation and decarbonisation of transport routes, retrofitting housing stock, decarbonising the agri-food sector and heavy industry, and restoring the region’s natural environments and assets.
Announcing the South Yorkshire Sustainability Centre at the South Yorkshire Economic Summit, South Yorkshire Mayor Dan Jarvis said: “South Yorkshire is the heartland of innovation and we are harnessing these credentials to tackle the biggest challenge facing our generation: the climate emergency and the need to drastically reduce carbon emissions.
“I’ve made it my mission to create a stronger, greener, fairer South Yorkshire economy and our investment in the Sustainability Centre will catalyse our region’s plan to reach net zero emissions by 2040, unlock good green jobs and grow and attract new businesses and investment.”
The South Yorkshire Sustainability Centre has recently received £5 million of funding from Research England. It will be delivered by a network of academics working closely with the region’s established business and industrial capabilities.
President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, Professor Koen Lamberts, said: “The drive towards reaching net zero emissions is more important than ever. While there is a lot of available academic evidence around sustainability, it can sometimes be challenging for businesses to apply it to meet their own individual opportunities and challenges.
“This new centre will provide a wealth of information and support for companies in South Yorkshire who want to decarbonise. It is collaborative in its approach, but has been designed to move at pace and it will be flexible to the region’s ever changing environmental landscape.”
Centre director, Professor Rachael Rothman, said: “The South Yorkshire Sustainability Centre will bring together academic expertise from across Sheffield’s two universities to address specific regional challenges. It is important to look at sustainability challenges holistically; ensuring that in our urgent drive to reduce emissions we are also considering the economic and social impact, and opportunities, of the solutions we propose.
“We are looking forward to working with organisations of all sizes to assess the opportunities to work together to decarbonise for the future. While we have identified initial projects for the centre, we also have some funding for future projects and we are keen to hear from organisations that would like to work with us to co-design solutions to regional sustainability challenges.”
