MD Law boosts corporate and commercial property teams
Two experienced solicitors have joined Sheffield’s MD Law to boost its corporate and commercial property teams.
Kate Beech, known for a broad range of transactional corporate work especially in the healthcare sector, joins as a consultant solicitor working with the six-strong team of partners, and will concentrate on acquisitions and mergers, especially dental practices, a new development for the firm.
Senior associate Travis Wood, who has worked on commercial and residential developments, social housing projects, large distribution centre transactions and funding deals, joins experienced legal and property professional Howard Wade, and newly qualified solicitor Abi Johal in the expanding commercial property team.
The Broomhall-based boutique law firm, which was set up 10 years ago by Matthew Dixon and now employs 20 staff, acts for businesses and individuals on corporate law, business recovery, insolvency, litigation, commercial property, healthcare and employment law matters.
Kate has held senior roles at various national law firms, as well as in Sheffield in her near 20 year career, and is one of the very few lawyers in the country to have held both NASDAL (National Association of Specialist Dental Accountants and Lawyers) and ASPD (Association of Specialist Providers to Dentists) accreditation.
She said: “I have been involved hundreds of dental practice transactions. The market is active and there are deals being done all the time, whether that is a first time buyer or a corporate, all looking to build their practices, to those looking to sell the practice they have built over a number of years.
“This is a really good opportunity to bring a new line of work to a quality firm, which has friendly and approachable staff, and to enhance the already successful corporate team’s offering.”
Travis, who has 10 years experience in commercial property law, added: “I love the mechanical and transactional elements of the work. I’m excited to join MD Law at such a dynamic time for the firm and its growing commercial property team.
“The firm has an excellent reputation for delivering practical, client-focused advice, and I look forward to contributing to its continued growth by helping clients achieve their goals.”
MD Law partner Matthew Dixon said: “Kate’s appointment reflects our ongoing commitment to driving sustainable growth across the firm. Her arrival further enhances the depth of expertise within our corporate team, bringing new skills and opportunities.
“Travis’ property experience across a range of sectors and project types brings real benefits and will ensure clients are in the best possible position to safeguard themselves and the developments they are involved in.
“Kate and Travis are invaluable assets to our corporate and commercial property teams, and to the firm as a whole. We’re very pleased to have them on board.”
RNN Group and Henry Boot Construction partner for Employer Academies
The RNN Group has formed a new partnership with Henry Boot Construction as an Employer Academy. Construction students at Rotherham College will benefit from the partnership with the construction specialist.
Henry Boot Construction have been appointed by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council to deliver the £36m redevelopment of Rotherham Markets and an adjacent new library, as part of the town centre’s new masterplan.
Through the partnership, Henry Boot Construction will actively contribute to curriculum development, ensuring it aligns with the evolving needs of the construction industry. This includes educational talks, hosting mock interviews and site visits, and offering valuable industry placements and work experience opportunities.
The construction department faculty will have the chance to visit live construction projects and engage in continuing professional development programmes to refresh their knowledge and stay abreast of industry best practices.
The College will deliver comprehensive mentor training programs, empowering Henry Boot Construction employees to effectively support apprentices and colleagues. This training will focus on key skills such as providing constructive and effective feedback, fostering a supportive learning environment, and enhancing communication and interpersonal skills.
This partnership marks a significant step towards bridging the gap between education and industry. By working together, Henry Boot Construction and Rotherham College aim to cultivate a highly skilled workforce that can meet the demands of the modern construction sector and contribute to the continued growth and success of the region.
Adam Houlston, Senior Project Manager at Henry Boot Construction, said: “We’re proud to be kickstarting our partnership with Rotherham College. At Henry Boot Construction, we’re committed to working with school and college students to show them the variety of careers in the construction industry and how engaging and rewarding they can be.
“By combining real-world experiences into education, we’re not only helping to inspire the next generation of industry professionals but also delivering meaningful social value that benefits the entire community. This collaboration reflects our commitment to building stronger, more connected communities while creating educational opportunities that align with the needs of our sector.”
Keith Sanderson, Director of Campus for Rotherham College, said: “We are excited to announce this strategic partnership with Henry Boot Construction, a leader in construction and development. This collaboration reinforces Rotherham College’s commitment to providing our students with practical, real-world experiences in a rapidly evolving industry.
“Through this partnership, we aim to bridge the gap between education and industry, equipping our students with the knowledge, skills and development opportunities necessary to thrive in the construction sector. We look forward to the growth and success that will come from this collaboration.”
Leeds Bradford Airport awards contract for phase two of regeneration project
Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) has awarded the contract for Phase 2 of construction works on its £100m regeneration project to Farrans Construction, as it continues to transform its terminal facilities.
With the terminal extension (Phase 1) due to handover in Summer 2025, the refurbishment of the existing terminal (Phase 2) of LBA: REGEN is expected to complete in Winter 2026.
Farrans is a building and civil engineering contractor which operates across the UK and Ireland. The company is already on-site completing Phase 1 of the project which involves the construction of the 9,500m2, three-storey terminal extension.
Passengers will benefit from more seating, faster security, new shops and eateries, and a larger baggage reclaim area and immigration hall, as well as improved access for passengers with restricted mobility.
In Phase 2, Farrans will be undertaking a full refurbishment of the existing terminal. Works will be delivered in multiple sub-phases to minimise disruption to customers and allow the airport to operate as close to normal as possible.
Improvements include the creation of new staircases, lifts and escalators to provide an open plan feel which will complement the new lighter and brighter terminal extension. Remodelled internal spaces will allow improved passenger movement and there will be brand new security and arrivals facilities, World Duty Free and shops, bars and restaurants.
By 2030, the regeneration has the potential to create 1,500 new direct jobs at LBA and 4,000 new indirect jobs, as well as contribute a total of £940 million to the local economy.
The regeneration will also help LBA to further decarbonise its operations, as outlined in the airport’s 2030 Net Zero Carbon Roadmap, with the installation of new all electric heating, lighting and machinery, including new baggage belts.
It is expected that airlines attracted by the regeneration will accelerate the deployment of their newest, quietest and most efficient aircraft at the airport, in turn reducing the overall environmental impact of LBA’s operations.
Vincent Hodder, Chief Executive of Leeds Bradford Airport, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Farrans on Phase 2 of our LBA: REGEN project. We’ve already created a strong working relationship with the team on Phase 1 and as we transition into Phase 2, we’re excited to be able to take our customers along with us on this journey.
“It’s also an opportunity to let our customers know that while this important work gets underway, there will be temporary changes to the terminal while we deliver this new and improved customer experience. LBA: REGEN is the first major improvement to our terminal since its opening in 1968 and is long overdue. It’s vitally important to upgrade LBA to the world-class facility Yorkshire deserves.”
Cathal Montague, Regional Director at Farrans Construction, said: “We are pleased to be continuing our strong working relationship with Leeds Bradford Airport as they progress with this important improvement project which will have long term benefits for this region.
“Our experience in the aviation sector has enabled us to work collaboratively with our client to ensure the airport’s operations have continued without disruption, and we will be putting in place similar plans as we move forwards into Phase 2.
“Our team is fully invested in the complete delivery of this regeneration project and I am pleased that we will be remaining on site to see the work come to completion at the end of Phase 2.
“Leeds is an important region for our business, we are all frequent users of LBA and we are looking forward to working together with the airport’s team on the successful delivery of the next stage of the project.”
This year, the airport is expected to contribute a total of £460 million to the local economy, directly employing 2,100 people and indirectly supporting 4,500 jobs.
University of Leeds makes funding pledge to boost region’s skills
The University of Leeds has revealed a new levy transfer project that aims to donate £1 million to eligible small employers to fully fund apprenticeship training and boost skills development.
To date, the University has pledged £287,000 of the £1 million to support small and medium sized enterprises in the Leeds city region who do not pay the Apprenticeship Levy to upskill their workforce.
The University of Leeds has offered apprenticeship programmes since 2018, across a range of different sectors and to apprentices from all walks of life. The new levy transfer project aims to support potential apprentices who don’t currently hold a Higher Education qualification or equivalent.
The programme particularly welcomes individuals from low-income households, or those who are mature, disabled, care leavers, or from areas that do not have high levels of the community participating in higher education along with those from disadvantaged ethnic minority backgrounds.
In addition, applications are encouraged from organisations where apprenticeship programmes will enhance the career prospects of staff through professional registration or Chartered Status.
The funding is targeted at those key sectors identified in the West Yorkshire Local Skills Improvement Plan. These are health and social care, engineering and advanced manufacturing, financial and professional services, low carbon industries, creative industries, digital and technology industries, the education sector, construction, transport and logistics.
Dominic Millington, Head of Apprenticeships (Delivery and Compliance) at the University of Leeds, said: “We want to give as much support as possible to both organisations and the individuals who participate in our apprenticeships. Our aim is to widen participation in higher education, boost skills in a cost-effective way for employers across the district and support growth and productivity within the West Yorkshire region.”
Sheffield Forgemasters gets green light for new machining facility
Castings and forgings specialist, Sheffield Forgemasters, has been granted planning permission to build a 30,000 sq m machining facility on brownfield land in Sheffield’s Meadowhall district.
Located on a 16-acre plot at Weedon Street, the new facility will form one of the world’s most advanced large machining facilities, to support the Ministry of Defence-owned company’s manufacture for the UK defence programmes.
With work to prepare the site already underway, the building will cover a space equal to 12 Olympic-sized swimming pools and will contain some of the largest and most advanced five-axis Vertical Turning Lathes ever produced.
Craig Fisher, Programmes Director at Sheffield Forgemasters, said: “This planning agreement will see construction of the largest machining hall of its kind in the UK, and regeneration of a prominent brownfield site in the city’s industrial centre.
“It signals an amazing investment for the city and for the wider UK, which will create highly-skilled engineering jobs for decades to come, fully supporting our national defence programmes.
“The sheer scale of the building will make it an iconic landmark, and will eclipse the construction of the UK’s largest open-die forging-line, which is also underway on our adjacent Brightside Lane site.”
Plans for the new machining facility detail a main building with a circa 272.5 x 110 metre footprint, standing 32 metres tall, located close to the River Don and designed to complement the historic look of the company’s existing buildings.
Adjoining the main construction is a second, proposed 3,500 sq m building, with a state-of-the-art test-house facility and a dedicated training area, to transfer vital skills to the next generation of engineers.
Craig added: “What we are creating in the centre of Britain’s historical industrial heartland is unparalleled in the UK and will not only de-risk supply for the UK’s AUKUS defence programme, but it will also deliver technologically advanced and rewarding working facilities for our employees.”
The machining facility is set to be operational by the end of 2028 and will deliver new levels of speed, accuracy and efficiency for the manufacture of large, highly complex, nuclear-grade components.
Machine tools specialist, WaldrichSiegen, is building a series of large Vertical Turning Lathes and associated machines for the machining hall, which will be installed and maintained by McDowell Machine Tools.
Sheffield Forgemasters’ 13,000 tonne forging line and proposed machine shop will create a new generation of engineers and designers trained to work with Industry 4.0 technologies.
The machine shop project team consists of Arup, which handled the ecological and travel assessments, Bond Bryan Architects, and JLL, which acted on behalf of Sheffield Forgemasters for the site acquisition and planning submissions.
Joanna Gabrilatsou, Regional Head of Planning at JLL, said: “JLL has been working closely with Sheffield Forgemasters and Sheffield City Council to ensure the delivery of Sheffield Forgemasters’ time-critical growth programme is met, and are delighted with the decision.
“Approval of the new machine shop is essential to allow Sheffield Forgemasters to operate in a modern, fit-for-purpose facility, and is highly beneficial to the city and the region’s economy. It will also allow the regeneration of the vacant Weedon St plots.
“We are already working on the first phase of enabling works as part of an existing consent, and we’re now gearing up to discharge conditions to implement the next phase of construction.”
County accountancy firm makes north London acquisition
Accountants and business advisers Duncan & Toplis has acquired London-based accountants ALG, milestone in the group’s largest period of growth in its 100-year history.
The deal will see ALG rebrand, with all team members including directors Mark Hilton and Panos Michaelides remaining in their roles.
The team will join their new Duncan & Toplis colleagues in the Finchley office, which opened in September 2024 following the company’s acquisition of Haines Watts North London.
Damon Brain, CEO of Duncan & Toplis, said: “Last year, we began a new era of our company’s history with the launch of our Growing Together strategy. Now, this is another exciting step for us and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the start of our centenary year.”
Amilios Costa, Regional Director for London at Duncan & Toplis, added: “We’re very excited to be welcoming ALG to Duncan & Toplis – Mark, Panos and the team will bring a wealth of experience and expertise, helping us to maximise our potential here in North London.”
Government changes the rules on apprentice qualification
Up to 10,000 more apprentices will be able to qualify every year as the government Changs apprenticeship rules giving employers more flexibility over maths and English requirements.
Rules slowing down the training of workers in key industries like construction will also be changed as the government reveals plans to turbocharge growth industries with reduced bureaucracy for apprenticeships and new leadership also appointed for Skills England.
Businesses will now be able to decide whether adult learners over the age of 19 when they start their apprenticeship course will need to complete a level 2 English and maths qualification (equivalent to GCSE) in order to pass it. This means more learners can qualify in high demand sectors such as healthcare, social care and construction, helping to drive growth and meet government targets in key areas such as housebuilding.
This could mean as many as 10,000 more apprentices per year will be able to complete their apprenticeship, unlocking opportunity in communities all over the country and breaking the link between background and success. It does not mean that apprentices won’t be assessed on core English and maths skills relevant to their occupation, but it does mean that apprentices will be able to focus more on their paid work.
The minimum duration of an apprenticeship will be reduced to eight months, down from the current minimum of 12 months.
Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson said: ”Growing the economy and opportunity for all are fundamental Missions of our Plan for Change, and we are determined to support apprentices throughout this National Apprenticeship Week and beyond.
“Businesses have been calling out for change to the apprenticeship system and these reforms show that we are listening. Our new offer of shorter apprenticeships and less red tape strikes the right balance between speed and quality, helping achieve our number one mission to grow the economy. ”
Craig Beaumont, Executive Director at the FSB said: “It’s encouraging to see Government shorten the length of apprenticeships, and give employers the right to decide whether Level 2 English and Maths is needed. These flexibilities should help SME employers fill skills gaps faster.”
Nationwide Platforms empowers employees through apprenticeships
This National Apprenticeship Week (10th – 16th February 2025), Nationwide Platforms is championing the value of lifelong learning through employees like Yetunde Adefila, a 40-year-old HR Business Partner who’s using an apprenticeship to sharpen her leadership skills and shape company HR strategy.
With an engineering background and a degree in computer science, she began her career in the technical sector. However, she soon realised she missed the human interaction element in her work, leading her to transition into HR in her late 20s. Since joining Nationwide Platforms as an HR Advisor three years ago, she has progressed rapidly, being promoted to HR Business Partner within a year.
While transitioning into her new role, Yetunde sought guidance from a mentor outside of work who recommended an apprenticeship to strengthen her leadership and strategic HR skills. Already holding a Level 7 qualification in HR Practices, Yetunde opted for a career-adjacent route, enrolling in a Level 5 Coaching Professional apprenticeship through KnowledgeBrief. Her apprenticeship is focused on coaching and influencing and takes 12 months to complete, involving online learning, bi-monthly meetings with a skills coach, portfolio development, and a final exam. Now two months in, she is already seeing improvements in her approach to HR strategy. “I absolutely love my role,” says Yetunde. “Every day is different, and I enjoy the gentle strategising that comes with it. HR is often the first place people turn to when they’re struggling at work. I want to be able to guide them effectively, balancing emotional support with strategic decision-making. I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunity to level up. I describe myself as a ‘certification freak’, but this apprenticeship is more than a qualification. It’s about applying frameworks in real-time and developing the soft skills that make a real difference. Balancing work, studies, and family life is no small feat, and Nationwide Platforms’ hybrid working policy has been crucial to maintaining this balance while still enjoying precious family time.”Charlie Stanley, HR Director at Nationwide Platforms, said, “Nationwide Platforms champions internal career development through apprenticeships. By providing employees with the tools, flexibility, and support to advance their careers, the company is fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth. As we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week, Yetunde’s experience is a testament to the power of lifelong learning and the impact of investing in people. Nationwide Platforms is proud to play a part in helping employees reach their full potential, proving that career growth is always within reach.”
New Procurement Act set to reshape business operations
The UK government will implement the Procurement Act 2023 on February 24, 2025, introducing changes to increase small business participation in public contracts. The government spends £400 billion annually on public procurement and has set a target to direct over £120 billion to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Only around 10% of contracts are awarded directly to SMEs, rising to 24% when subcontracting is included.
A key change under the new Act is the introduction of a Central Digital Platform to replace and enhance the Find a Tender service. The platform will centralise supplier registration, store core business details for multiple bids, and improve visibility into public procurement opportunities. Suppliers can manage profiles, track procurement notices, and set up tender alerts. The platform will also capture procurement data for future analysis.
All suppliers seeking public sector contracts must register on the new platform, regardless of previous registration on Find a Tender or Contracts Finder.
Workplace supplier Slingsby seeks buyer amid falling sales
HC Slingsby, a workplace equipment provider with origins dating back to 1893, has announced it is seeking a buyer. The West Yorkshire-based company, which specialises in manufacturing and distributing industrial and commercial equipment, has launched a formal sales process and is inviting potential offers for its entire issued share capital.
Founded by Harry Crowther Slingsby, the company initially focused on producing handling and lifting equipment before expanding its product range. Slingsby became a publicly listed company in 1961 and moved to the AIM stock market in 2005. Today, it offers over 40,000 products for workplaces across various industries.
The decision to pursue a sale follows a strategic review of its options. However, the company stated that it is not currently in discussions with potential buyers and has not received formal approaches.
Slingsby has struggled financially, reporting lower sales and increased costs. In October 2024, the company revealed an 8% drop in revenue over the first nine months of the year. The decline was linked to reduced customer spending, rising operational expenses, and weaker demand for seasonal goods. Additional uncertainty around tax and regulatory changes further impacted performance, resulting in an unaudited pre-tax loss of £530,000 by the end of September.
