Work To Deliver New Social Housing In Doncaster Begins

Eleonora Gallina
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Work To Deliver New Social Housing In Doncaster Begins

The latest phase of the Council’s new build programme for affordable rented homes has begun, with three new housing developments across the borough.

In total 33 new affordable homes will be available when construction completes in January 2023. National contractor Willmott Dixon  has been appointed to build the new homes. The project includes the building of:
  • Twenty-one 2-4 bedroom houses on Adwick Lane, Toll Bar (above)
  • Seven 2-3 bedroom houses on Appleby Road, Intake
  • Five 2-3 bedroom houses on Athlestane Crescent, Edenthorpe.
The sites form part of the council’s new £100million housebuilding programme which was approved, along with a new Housing Strategy, by Mayor Ros Jones and cabinet earlier last year. The quality social housing developments will be a mix of bungalows and family homes using award winning designs from the council’s in-house architects. A key focus is sustainability with various features included to make them energy efficient, cost effective for the tenants to run and  supporting efforts to tackle the Climate Emergency declared in the borough in September 2019. Consideration of how the schemes may impact on nature recovery and biodiversity are at the core of the design briefs, with each site  being designed to safeguard the environment. The project will generate £444,000 in social value through initiatives to enhance social, economic and environmental wellbeing, such as charity work, apprenticeships for young people and bettering energy efficiency standards. Cllr Glyn Jones, Deputy Mayor & Portfolio holder for Housing & Business, said: “I am delighted to see the next raft of new council homes start to go up. Building quality homes for Doncaster residents was a fundamental element of our Housing Strategy and the Housing  Delivery Plan so seeing work get underway on our latest three developments is excellent news. “We have had a superb record for delivering new council homes in recent years and this commitment is continuing with more than 500 new homes planned over the next five years. These are homes that include the latest energy saving features to address the climate change agenda and are built to meet the needs and wants of residents. We are leading the way on high standards on the council homes building front.” The homes will be built using traditional construction methods but will be at least a third more efficient than even  the latest energy efficiency regulations. All houses will have solar photovoltaic (PV) panels that sit within the tiles, meaning that they don’t have to be retrofitted and green energy comes as standard for the tenants. Furthermore, better flooring insulation and electric vehicle charging points will be included on all new homes to help tenants live comfortably and sustainably in the new homes. Nick Heath, director at Willmott Dixon, said: “We’re excited that work is commencing in Doncaster on Adwick Lane. After working with the Council to deliver over 400 new homes in recent years, we have built strong relationships in the area and continue to help meet the growing housing needs of the local community. “As with all our schemes, we aim to leave a positive lasting impact on the communities we work within. Over three of our current schemes in Doncaster in Toll Bar, Intake and Edenthorpe, we will generate £444,000 in social value through initiatives to enhance social, economic and environmental wellbeing, such as charity work, apprenticeships for young people and bettering energy efficiency standards.” All the new council homes will be available on an affordable / social rent and advertised through St Leger Homes Choice based lettings on completion early next year.

Find out more about apprenticeships at presentation event on Wednesday

Eleonora Gallina
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Find out more about apprenticeships at presentation event on Wednesday

Doncaster Council’s Apprenticeship Team are delivering a ‘Virtual Insight Presentation’ session, giving individuals the opportunity to learn more about roles and careers at Doncaster Council.

Whether you are considering an apprenticeship, looking at undertaking a degree, considering a career change or maybe not sure what you want to do and simply want to find out more about the diverse career areas available, this may be of interest to you. The session will be delivered over MS Teams on Wednesday 9th February at 1pm and will run until around 1.45pm.  The session will involve an introduction from the Apprenticeship Team, presentations from recruiting managers who will talk about their latest vacancies and some of our current apprentices will be talking about their experiences working at Doncaster Council There will be an opportunity for question and answers towards the end of the session. If you would like to submit a question(s) beforehand, please add this into the Eventbrite form using the link below. We may be able to take questions on the day depending on time. To register your interest in this event, please click on the Eventbrite link below. Virtual Insight Event- Apprenticeships at Doncaster Council Tickets, Wed 9 Feb 2022 at 13:00 | Eventbrite Once you have registered on Eventbrite, you will receive an email with joining instructions. You will need to download Microsoft Teams onto your device to ensure you are able to join the sessions. For more information please email apprentices@doncaster.gov.uk

More grant funding to help small and medium businesses benefit from digital technology

Eleonora Gallina
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More grant funding to help small and medium businesses benefit from digital technology
The Digital Innovation Grant is open for a new round of applications, closing again at midday on Monday 28 February. The Digital Innovation Grant programme supports Small and Medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and can include eligible charities and social enterprises, in South Yorkshire to develop their use of digital technology. By exploiting digital technologies, businesses can access new markets, promote their products and services more effectively and develop new cost-effective ways of working. Examples of typical projects include client relationship management systems, new software developments, development of apps, e-commerce solutions and live high quality video streaming. The funding is not available solely to support a technology refresh, applicants must clearly evidence how the grant can add value to their business and help them grow and exploit new opportunities. The scheme aims to enhance the digital capabilities of SMEs by raising their confidence in the use of digital technologies and will support them to increase their levels of productivity and competitiveness to achieve business growth. The Digital Innovation Grant will be delivered through a competitive process. Following the call for applications, completed applications will be assessed for eligibility, then ranked according to a number of economic and inclusive growth indicators. Councillor Paul Turpin, Executive Member for Inclusive Economy, Jobs and Skills, said: “Digital skills and technology have proved a lifeline for many of our businesses throughout the pandemic, we’ve seen so many display their creativity and innovation by transforming their ways of working to adapt to new ways of living and the fast pace of digital advancement. “We recognise that it can be hard, particularly for smaller businesses, to fully understand and utilise the power of digital technologies, so this funding along with the support available from our Business Sheffield team, will be vital in helping them grow and fulfil their potential. “I would encourage all those interested to check eligibility, reach out for our support and advice, and get applying now.” Funding and application details
  • The funding is available towards projects of no more than £10,000
  • Up to 50% of the value of an investment may be awarded
  • Successful applicants will receive a minimum award of £1,000, up to a maximum of £5,000
  • Applications close on Monday 28 February 2022
  • Applications will be assessed by Friday 18 of March 2022
  • Applicants will receive a decision by Friday 1 of April 2022
The Digital Innovation Grant Programme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and for South Yorkshire, is managed and delivered by Barnsley Council. Businesses can find out more and apply for a grant via the website for Enterprising Barnsley see: https://www.enterprisingbarnsley.co.uk/digital-innovation-grants/ Business Sheffield’s team of Business Advisors can support businesses to develop their application and make the most of a grant. Contact the team at BusinessSheffield@sheffield.gov.uk, or call 0114 224 5000. Previous rounds have shown that businesses who access this support from Business Sheffield have a higher chance of success as they better understand how to prepare and submit a compelling application. The support is free and provided on a one-to-one basis for all eligible organisations. It is expected that applications will open again in May 2022, August 2022 and November 2022, at the discretion of Barnsley Council and subject to available funding.

Guildhall restoration unlocks carbon savings

Eleonora Gallina
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Guildhall restoration unlocks carbon savings

A River Water Source Heat Pump has been installed at York Guildhall, as part of the refurbishment and redevelopment work.

This will significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the historic building at the heart of the city. The location of the Guildhall, on the banks of the River Ouse, provides the opportunity to take advantage of this low-carbon energy source. The River Water Source Heat Pump installation will allow to make carbon savings of around 40 tonnes per year in operation when compared against an equivalent fossil fuel energy solution. The Main Hall, Slype space and new-build offices will be heated from the River Source Heat Pump using underfloor heating. Further offices and meeting rooms, will be heated by Fan Coil Units (FCUs) that are run from the River Water Source Heat Pump. These FCUs combine heating and cooling coils, providing warmth in the winter and cooling air in the warmer summer months. The historic Guildhall building is being restored and redeveloped for the 21st century, with works now reaching the final stages. The building will provide modern business space with public access, conference and events space and retained civic use. Councillor Paula Widdowson, Executive Member for Environment and Climate Change at City of York Council, said: “It was fantastic to see first-hand some of the work that has taken place to restore the Guildhall and bring this historic building into the 21st century. “The carbon output of this heating method is much lower than using a traditional gas boiler. Over time, with the greening of the grid, the carbon savings will only increase. “As a Council, we are determined to play our part in helping to achieve our ambition of becoming a carbon net-zero city. The installation of the River Water Source Heat Pump at the Guildhall is yet another step towards achieving this goal.” Councillor Nigel Ayre, Executive Member for Finance and Performance at City of York Council, said: “It makes perfect sense to take advantage of the Guildhall’s unique riverside location to heat large parts of the building. “Sustainability and innovation are at the heart of the renovation works. Through the installation of the River Water Source Heat Pump, we are making sure the Guildhall restoration project delivers environmental gain alongside the many community and economic benefits.” Faye Davies, Managing Director of Burrell Foley Fischer architects for the project, said: “As architects we consider carefully our specification choices and their environmental impact. The riverside location of the project provides an ideal alternative energy source for the refurbished and extended building and will significantly reduce its in-use carbon footprint.”  

York City Council opens ARG funding applications for local businesses

Eleonora Gallina
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York City Council opens ARG funding applications for local businesses

City of York Council has opened a new round of Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) funding for York businesses affected by Omicron.

On 21 December 2021, the Government announced that a further £102m will be made available for local authorities through Additional Restrictions Grant funding to support businesses severely impacted by the rise of the Omicron variant but not able to receive any other form of Covid-19 grant support. York’s share of this top-up is £300,786. Interested businesses can find more information about the funding, its eligibility criteria and our application process by visiting the council’s ARG webpage. Businesses are encouraged to read the eligibility criteria carefully and ensure that they have the necessary documentation to support their application. The council is determined to distribute the funding to businesses in need of help as quickly as possible. Councillor Andrew Waller, Executive Member for Economy and Strategic Planning said: “Although national Covid-19 restrictions have lifted, this remains a very challenging time for many of our local businesses some of whom saw cancellations hit their business over what had been hoped to be a busy Christmas period. The key aspect here is to maintain jobs across the city recognising that some businesses are under pressure. “I encourage York businesses to apply for the latest round of Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) funding. The scheme has previously proved to be a lifeline to local small businesses and the latest round aims to support sectors most severely impacted by the rise of the Omicron variant including travel and tourism, companies dealing with events, and the personal care sector as well as other businesses missing out on previous Government schemes for whom we have been making representation to Government. “We thank businesses for their patience and understanding whilst we have set up this new process. We continue to update our webpage so ask that businesses visit it for the latest information.” Councillor Nigel Ayre, Executive Member for Finance and Performance said: “These have been an exceptionally difficult past two years for businesses in York and we continue to do all we can to support them. Since the start of this pandemic we have administered over 25,000 grants with a value of more than £113 million of government grants to York businesses, applied all available business rates support and invested £1 million in additional local support. “Earlier in the pandemic we were among the quickest paying local authorities and we have been working to get support to businesses as swiftly as we can. We are now in a position to open a new grant application process so businesses affected by Omicron can access the latest round of ARG support. Businesses can also visit our website to view the eligibility criteria and how to apply. Our teams will process applications as swiftly as possible so that businesses get these grants as soon as possible.”

North Lincolnshire Council announces Scunthorpe broadband boost

Eleonora Gallina
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North Lincolnshire Council announces Scunthorpe broadband boost
Around 900 more commercial properties in Scunthorpe will be able to access gigabit broadband thanks to £150,000 of Government cash. The cash is part of the Government’s £27m Town Deal for North Lincolnshire which will help create jobs and grow the economy. An event for businesses within 200 metres of a new gigabit fibre cable is being held online on Thursday 10 February between 8am and 9am. Businesses that are interested can register at www.northlincs.gov.uk/Gigabitbroadband. Ultrafast fibre has already been installed in parts of Scunthorpe earlier this year. Several local businesses have subscribed to the services and are benefiting from the enhanced digital infrastructure already. Access to Ultrafast fibre will enable businesses to benefit from efficiency improvements and cost savings, through: • Enable organisational change such as change to business processes. • Improved online sales and marketing. • Improved online ordering and invoicing. • Enhanced video conferencing and VoIP services. • Improved access to cloud-based services. • Easier document sharing means businesses become more efficient. • Productivity also improves as a large number of users can simultaneously use the internet with little to no effect on the overall performance of the broadband connection. This new government money enabled us to unlock a further £500,000 of private sector investment, to extend the gigabit network into southern parts of Scunthorpe giving around 900 businesses premises access to gigabit broadband speeds. ITS’ expertise in network design and build means that it is capable of connecting customers to gigabit connectivity far quicker than the industry norm. This is because it will use a ‘dig once’ approach using public and private infrastructure where appropriate and avoid disruptive road digs and road works, only digging new trenches when absolutely necessary. The map shows the gigabit fibre spine that runs through the heart of Scunthorpe’s business communities. Any business within 200 metres of this spine can now order full fibre broadband with speeds from 100mb to gigabit. This is now available to 2224 business premises in the Scunthorpe area.

Siddall & Hilton Products continues to invest in Brighouse manufacturing site

Michael Fisher
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Siddall & Hilton Products continues to invest in Brighouse manufacturing site
As part of its ongoing programme of improving facilities at its Brighouse site, welded steel mesh manufacturer Siddall and Hilton Products has made a £350,000 investment in upgrades to its premises and refurbishing its largest welding machine. Over the Christmas period, the company undertook a three-week project to completely replace the roof of one of its factories on Foundry Street, increasing the amount of natural light in the building, improving its thermal efficiency and ensuring it is watertight to keep products in prime condition. At the same time, a new heating system was installed in both factory units, replacing old and inefficient gas heaters. In addition, the 17-year old GRS144, one of Siddall and Hilton Products’ five welding machines and the largest welding machine in the world when it was built, has been fully reconditioned and refurbished during a two-month programme by an in-house team. This programme also saw the replacement of the staging and guarding around the machine, with the guarding having been fabricated on site using the company’s own mesh panels. “It’s great to see our world-class vision starting to take shape. As a business with a 127-year heritage, there are parts of the site, both buildings and machinery, which need to be upgraded and, following the MBO in 2019, this forms a key part of our strategic plan,” explains Ian Thurley, chief executive. “We’re really pleased to have our largest welding machine back in production and looking as good as new, proudly standing alongside our latest £2m welding machine which we added last year. “Our ongoing investment into the redevelopment of the site and machinery forms part of our commitment to maintaining our position as the UK’s largest manufacturer of welded steel mesh for high-security fencing, general fencing and industrial mesh panels. This is the first of some exciting improvement plans we will be announcing during 2022 as we progress our ambitious vision for Siddall and Hilton Products to be a world-class operation.”

Demand for online sales leads to e-commerce investment for iconic Yorkshire brand, Wensleydale Creamery

Eleonora Gallina
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Demand for online sales leads to e-commerce investment for iconic Yorkshire brand, Wensleydale Creamery
The Wensleydale Creamery, based at Hawes in Wensleydale, in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, is investing in its e-commerce operation to optimise its business for increased direct-to-consumer demand. The new e-commerce operation will see the brand launch a new website with plans to expand the operations team to facilitate the projected increased demand from UK consumers. The new website, which showcases the Creamery’s rich cheesemaking heritage and provenance, aims to enhance and streamline the customer experience of buying online, direct from the artisan cheesemaker. The investment follows recent increased online sales, which accelerated during the pandemic. Capitalising on the online food-buying trend, the Creamery is perfectly positioned to deliver direct to the increased number of consumers searching online for authentic food and all year-round gifting options. The Creamery already sells directly to many loyal fans through its Online Deli, with freshly cut handcrafted cheese and a range of locally sourced artisan accompaniments, deli boxes and luxury hampers and gifts. The business has generated a 145% sales increase vs pre-pandemic levels and has further ambitious targets for the forthcoming year. Sandra Bell, Marketing Manager at the Wensleydale Creamery, commented: “We’d identified the direct-to-consumer route as an opportunity for our business, and with the notable rise in online food sales activity over the past two years, we’ve been able to test our model to support our investment and growth plans. We’re now in a great position to expand our e-commerce offering and services and provide an enhanced online consumer experience to cater to the increasing customer demand. “Our new website will make the shopping experience even smoother, allowing us to showcase our handcrafted cheese and artisan produce, and develop new ranges, not only for key calendar occasions but also all-year-round gifting for cheese lovers across the UK.” To find out more, please visit: https://www.wensleydale.co.uk/.

Last chance to win a free office design

Tess Egginton
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Last chance to win a free office design
Entries close tonight at midnight for a chance to win a free office design as part of the 25th anniversary celebrations for Lincolnshire commercial office design and refurbishment company APSS. As businesses across the UK have been forced to adapt to a post-COVID working life, many companies have been forever changed. “The way offices are used has changed, and businesses need to ensure they reflect the new way of working,” explained Stuart Marsland, sales director for APSS. “When an office is designed to specifically meet the needs of the business, there is a significant increase in staff morale, as well as productivity. You will find the business flows better and becomes more efficient. “In addition to celebrating our 25th anniversary, we want to help those businesses who may not have considered bringing in a professional company to redesign their office before. If we can help them to better understand the flow of how their business could work going forward, it will make a huge difference to that company.” Established in Lincoln in 1997, APSS has evolved from a partitions and storage solution company to providing clients with a full design and fit out service. APSS specialises in creating offices which showcase a company’s brand, personality and help boost staff morale, productivity, and efficiency using inspirational designs and natural light. Entries close at midnight on February 7th, 2022. To enter, submit an online form and answer four questions about what both the company and its staff want included in their office environment. The winner will be chosen by a panel of judges and will receive computer-generated images and a video walkthrough of the design to show what potential the office has. In the last 25 years APSS has completed over 10,000 orders for customers across the country. The company’s first-ever customer was Siemens. Since then, it has designed and refurbished offices and retail spaces for Wren Kitchens, Slimming World, Octopus Energy, Loughborough University, University of Sheffield and Bakkavor to name just a few. For all terms and conditions of the competition, please visit the APSS website.

One of Europe’s largest battery storage facilities set for Hull as Harmony Energy signs 40 year lease

Tess Egginton
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One of Europe’s largest battery storage facilities set for Hull as Harmony Energy signs 40 year lease
Keyland Developments, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister company to Yorkshire Water, has agreed a 40 year lease to Harmony Energy for the construction of a battery storage facility at a five acre site adjacent to Creyke Beck substation in Cottingham near Hull. When constructed it will be one of the largest battery storage facilities in Europe. Harmony Energy has secured planning consent from East Riding of Yorkshire Council for a total of 100MW of battery storage. The development will enable energy from renewables, like solar and wind, to be stored and then released when customers need power most, helping the UK transition to net zero. Yorkshire-based Harmony Energy develops, builds, owns, and operates utility-scale renewable energy assets across the UK. The new facility will have the capacity to store up to 200MWh of power to feed directly back onto the network via the adjacent Creyke Beck substation, making the site’s location ideal for this development. Peter Garrett, Managing Director at Keyland Developments, said: “We’re very pleased to get this deal across the line; the energy sector represents an exciting new business area for us to explore and we look forward to sourcing further opportunities from within Kelda Group’s extensive landholding.” Keyland Developments was advised by Carter Jonas’ Infrastructure and Energy team. Carter Jonas’ energy specialist Simon Currie said: ”We are delighted to have advised Keyland on the development and promotion of this significant energy development site. The project is a prime example of the opportunity that presents itself to landowners and developers with sites adjacent to major grid substations, given the increasing demand for energy storage and frequency management on the grid.”
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