Sheffield furniture retailer adds to property portfolio
A Sheffield law firm has acted for a furniture retailer on the purchase of a new property.
Wake Smith Solicitors represented Ponsford, the family-run, luxury furniture retailer in Sheffield, on the six figure acquisition of a 7,437 sq ft premises on a 0.57-acre plot, behind its existing Millennium Building on London Road.
The well-known independent business, which has operated in the city for more than 130 years, brings Impression House on Oak Street, formerly the headquarters of ASAP Stamps, into its property portfolio.
The deal saw the purchase of the building and site, which was home to the UK’s largest independent rubber stamp manufacturer, potentially for regeneration for the traditional and contemporary furniture retailer.
Wake Smith’s commercial property director Neil Salter handled the building and land sale in the latest legal transaction for the two established Sheffield firms. Ian Osborn, senior associate in Taylor Emmet’s Commercial and Agricultural Property Department, acted for the sellers.
Neil Salter said: “The new site sits adjacent to Ponsford’s existing premises and was bought from the owners with vacant possession after a relatively short and smooth transaction when any issues were ironed out with minimum fuss.
“Our role was advising on due diligence, agreement for sale, the transfer deed, searches and title report and then completion.
“As an established business in Sheffield, Ponsford operates with many of the same values as Wake Smith to offer quality, innovation and excellent customer service to the people of Sheffield, South Yorkshire and beyond.”
Angus Ponsford said: “Using Wake Smith was the natural choice for us to process the transaction without fuss or bother. Their thorough approach to detail and timely completion made the process easy for everyone involved.”
Ian Osborn added: “It was a pleasure to work opposite Neil. His pragmatic approach to the transactional needs of the sale demonstrate the fruitful benefits for all parties in instructing local and knowledgeable firms, who can work together collaboratively to move high-value transactions swiftly to legal completion.”
Harry Ponsford founded Ponsford selling household goods from a barrow in Sheffield 130 years ago. By the 1930s, the thriving business moved into a shop on Sheffield’s London Road, part of the same premises in Ponsford’s Victorian building still occupied today.
As successive generations of the Ponsford family evolved and grew the business, the Millennium Building was acquired in the early 2000s, which is linked by a covered walkway called the Golden Jubilee bridge to the original base.
Lomond strengthens student let portfolio with acquisition of Leeds firm
Hot on the heels of its acquisition of Kent-based agency, Miles and Barr, Lomond has made its 65th acquisition, a deal which further strengthens the firm’s existing presence within the student lettings space.
Lomond’s latest deal, brokered by Atomic Consultancy, sees it acquire Sugarhouse Properties, a Leeds-based lettings and property management company with 13 years of experience.
Sugarhouse Properties was founded in 2011 by Charles Aston and Richard Napier, both of whom boast years of experience operating within the rental market and, more specifically, within student lets and HMOs.
With their flagship office located on the Otley Road, Sugarhouse Properties is one of the largest independent student lettings agents in Leeds, with the firm having also branched out to provide lets to professional tenants in the last few years.
The firm currently manages 372 properties, including large numbers of HMOs within the Leeds area and places a strong emphasis on providing high quality and well managed accommodation – an approach that has seen the firm win multiple industry awards.
Lomond’s latest acquisition sees it significantly strengthen its foothold in the student lettings space, an area where the firm has already placed a great deal of focus.
Lomond’s CEO, Ed Phillips, said: “Sugarhouse Properties is an outstanding company and one that has formed a formidable reputation within the student lettings space over the last 13 years.
“The company’s culture is centred around delivering high quality accommodation, with management and customer service to match, so it was clear from the start that both Lomond and Sugarhouse shared a great deal of synergy and that combining forces would be beneficial for all involved.
“What’s more, they’ve gone against the grain with respect to traditional marketing methods, utilising online channels that resonate with their target audience and with the help of Lomond’s marketing assets, we look forward to helping supercharge these efforts.”
Director of Sugarhouse Properties, Richard Napier, said: “We’ve put a great deal of blood, sweat and tears into Sugarhouse Properties and we’re immensely proud of the outstanding business we’ve built and the reputation we’ve developed across the student lettings sector.
“However, we believe that now is the right time to allow the business to evolve and with the help of Lomond, we’re extremely excited about what the future holds.
“It’s clear that Lomond places a real emphasis on empowering the businesses they acquire and with the additional assets that this deal will provide Sugarhouse Properties, we can’t wait to see how the brand evolves going forward.”
Founder and CEO of Atomic Consultancy, Lucy Noonan, said: “Sugarhouse Properties is one of the best established operators within the students lettings space in Leeds and we’re delighted to have played a pivotal role in the evolution of the company via its acquisition by Lomond.
“Both companies are ideally aligned with respect to their company culture, the quality of the service they provide and their ambitions for future growth and we’re excited to see what the future holds now that the deal has completed.”
Housebuilder puts another £10,000 into support for cancer charity
Housebuilder Keepmoat has committed a further £10,000 to support families across Yorkshire who care for children with cancer.
The donation will support Parents Association of Children with Tumours and Leukaemia, and will aid the charity in providing equipment, facilities and holidays – including part payments towards a new caravan for families to enjoy.
PACT is based in Sheffield, close to the housebuilders’ Eclipse and Beckett Hill developments and works to support families who care for children and young people battling cancer, aiming to enhance their quality of life.
Chris Clingo, Regional MD at Keepmoat Yorkshire West, said: “As a company, we’re driven to go beyond bricks and mortar and we’re extremely proud to support PACT and the local community through this donation.”
“We have worked with PACT for sixteen years and over that time have committed more than £90,000 to help aid its mission of supporting families with children with cancer. It’s a charity close to our hearts and it is a true privilege to support them.”
The Yorkshire-based charity also runs a property within walking distance of Sheffield Children’s Hospital for the families of children receiving treatment to temporarily live, at no cost, to ensure loved ones can remain as close as possible.
Beryl Welburn, Coordinator at PACT, added: “Keepmoat has supported the charity for many years which has enabled PACT to maintain our house that families can stay in when their children are receiving treatment for cancer.
“Keeping the family unit together is extremely important when facing the challenge of caring for a sick child and the knowledge of knowing loved ones are close is often what supports the children the most whilst they’re undergoing treatment.
“The charity also provides holiday caravans for families to enjoy and the most recent funds will contribute to the purchase of a new caravan. Every year we strive to create a holiday, enabling unwell children to rest, recuperate and create memories.”
Hydrogen has a place in UK’s future energy landscape, says new report
Hydrogen could play a vital role in delivering a secure, decarbonised electricity system in the UK, according to a new report by Centrica and FTI Consulting.
The report says a future energy system without an established hydrogen market would leave the UK at risk of huge swings in electricity generation from renewables, with no way of addressing the shortfalls and the surplus. It says: “By 2050, there could be excess electricity generation, driven by renewables around 15% of the time. Electricity generation from renewables could also rise or fall by as much as 100GW over the course of a single day making it incredibly difficult to balance the grid.”
Not only would hydrogen storage and transportation help address these issues, but the report also found that large scale hydrogen storage could reduce customer energy costs by as much as £1bn per year by 2050. The UK currently has the lowest levels of energy storage of the world’s major economies.
It goes on to say that although the UK has committed to net zero by 2050 and made more progress towards this ambition than other major economies, significant delivery challenges remain.
By providing a means of storing energy over a longer period of time, and transporting energy over a greater distance, hydrogen could address the major issues with renewable generation – intermittency and curtailment. For this to be successful, the report found that the development of a hydrogen transportation network and sufficient large-scale storage facilities would be necessary. Repurposing underground gas pipes to be used as a hydrogen transport network would create an underground ‘superhighway’ to move renewable electricity as hydrogen gas. This could also reduce the volume of above ground electricity transmission infrastructure needed and significantly reduce the cost of net zero for consumers.
Increased dependence on renewable generation will introduce greater supply volatility and increase cost on both a daily and seasonal basis. The report illustrates that making hydrogen when there is excess energy that can be stored and used when the wind isn’t blowing, and the sun isn’t shining, will be an essential part of the solution required to balance intermittent renewables.
The report took a ‘whole-systems approach’ to explore a net zero future, reviewing all available and established methods for decarbonising the UK. Its publication comes as the National Energy System Operator (NESO) has been tasked with ensuring a secure and affordable future British energy system and planning for Britain’s electricity and gas networks.
It concluded that both salt caverns and depleted gas fields will be required for hydrogen storage, with salt caverns being used for short term responses, and depleted gas fields, such as Rough, used for longer term storage. The modelling illustrates how both types of storage would work together to ensure hydrogen was in the right place, at the right time.
Chris O’Shea, Group Chief Executive of Centrica said: “At Centrica we believe wholeheartedly that the UK can reach net zero, but we’re realistic about the challenges the transition will pose. We need to be agnostic about the technology; there won’t be a single silver bullet that delivers this crucial change.
“What this report clearly demonstrates is the vital importance of hydrogen in decarbonising the UK’s energy system. By providing a way to store excess electricity, hydrogen will be crucial to managing more intermittency.
“We now have a blueprint for the role that hydrogen could play as a very big battery in a net zero energy system, providing electricity when the wind doesn’t blow, and the sun doesn’t shine. All we need now is the green light from regulators and the government to unlock £2bn of investment to transform our existing Rough storage facility to become the world’s biggest hydrogen storage facility and start building out the energy system of the future.”
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners to invest £42.3m into Wakefield factory
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP), the world’s largest independent bottler of Coca-Cola, has revealed a planned investment of £42.3m for a new Automated Storage Retrieval System (ASRS) warehouse at its site in Wakefield, Europe’s largest soft drinks plant by volume.
The new ASRS will take two and a half years to build. To maximise space, it will stand at 38 metres tall and will increase Wakefield’s warehouse capacity, allowing it to hold and move an additional 29,500 pallets on top of its current capacity of 29,000 pallets. It will also deliver a reduction of 18,500 vehicle journeys per year from the road, equating to 441,000 km per year.
This funding follows a £31m site investment for the installation of a new state-of-the-art, canning line, capable of producing 2,000 cans per minute, which has been operational since July of this year. The line provides additional production capabilities for CCEP’s light-weight 330ml cans across brands including Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Fanta, Dr Pepper and Sprite.
The site has received £103 million in investment since 2019 to enhance efficiencies and operate more sustainably, such as the replacement of its material handling equipment (MHE). This includes a fleet of 75 gas-powered forklift trucks, which is used to move cases of product around the site, replaced with units powered by lithium ion batteries, producing no carbon emissions in their day-to-day operation.
Vanessa Smith, Director of Wakefield Supply Chain Operations at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, said: “The new ASRS warehouse ensures we continue expanding our production capabilities as we look to the future, and operate as efficiently and sustainably as possible.”
Stephen Moorhouse, Vice-President and General Manager, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (GB), said: “Wakefield offers a range of modern manufacturing jobs and sits at the heart of many of our latest manufacturing technologies. We’ve invested more than £100million since 2019 to help us evolve operations on site and further support the local economy.”
Simon Lightwood MP for Wakefield and Rothwell said: “CCEP continues to play an important role in and around Wakefield. It’s fantastic to see the business invest in delivering more efficient and sustainable operations, which shows the organisation’s commitment to being a major employer in West Yorkshire.”
New jobs created at Keighley manufacturing company following grant
A family-run engineering and manufacturing company has seen two new jobs created, following a grant from the Keighley Towns Fund.
Yorkshire Precision Engineering Ltd, which was established in March 2001 and operates from two sites in Keighley at Dalton Works and Acre Park, was awarded £53,200 through the Capital Assistance to Business Growth Programme.
The programme is part of the Government-funded Keighley Towns Fund and there is approximately £2m available to support local businesses in the Keighley area. Funding has so far been spent on a wide-range of projects by businesses across the district such as expanding and modernising facilities, as well as replacing equipment with more efficient systems.
Yorkshire Precision Engineering Ltd is a UK leading subcontract CNC machining company specialising in the supply and manufacture of high quality turned and milled parts across a range of sectors.
The grant was part of a wider company investment in a new fixed-head lathe, to improve efficiency. The new Citizen BNE-65MYY Fixed Head Lathe delivers a 10 Axis twin spindle, high-pressure through-coolant system, allowing three operations to be performed at the same time.
It has resulted in an increase in productivity and the creation of two new jobs at the 27-strong firm.
Director Sam Laybourne explained: “We have had brilliant support from Bradford Council’s business team, who have advised on the recruitment of new staff as well as our application for this grant.
“We were previously awarded a grant of £34,990 in 2022 and it really helped us with our vision for the future to invest in the latest technology available. This second sum has been crucial in enabling us to work more efficiently while maintaining the exacting high standards we are known for.
“Investment of this sort is an investment in long-term opportunities for Keighley and the surrounding area and we have exciting plans for ongoing growth.”
Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, explained: “I’m delighted to see another fantastic Keighley business growing thanks to the work of Keighley Towns Fund and our business support team.
“Grants ranging from £1,500 to £315,000 are still available for businesses within – or looking to move to – Keighley Towns Fund area, and other businesses are invited to apply.”
Tim Rogers, chair of Keighley Towns Fund, added: “The process of securing a grant is straightforward and the team at Bradford Council will advise businesses throughout. Keighley has such a strong manufacturing and engineering heritage, and it is fantastic to see this success continuing.
“We are delighted to have been able to support this incredible business in Keighley and we wish them all the best for the future.”
The Towns Fund Capital Assistance to Business Growth Programme Funding is available up to March 2026.
South Yorkshire battery company lights up sub-Saharan Africa
Sheffield-based pay-per-use battery rental company MOPO has completed its 20 millionth battery rental in sub-Saharan Africa – and is only just getting started, according to CEO Chris Longbottom.
He says: “We’re just getting started. Our 20 million battery rentals are just the beginning of MOPO’s mission to bring clean energy to all, and we’re ready to take this even further.
“We’re revolutionising power access. Our proprietary batteries and pay per use rental model are transforming energy for millions.”
The companys’ batteries light homes, charge devices, and powering e-mobility. “It’s a lifeline for millions and contributes to socio-economic development while reducing reliance on fossil fuels. This is all done at a significantly reduced cost to existing power sources and at a huge environmental benefit,” he added.
Each MOPO battery is equipped with proprietary technology that ensures energy is only released after agent payment via the MOPO App, even in offline settings. Additionally, the batteries are continuously tracked through the MOPO Platform, allowing the Company to monitor usage, location, and recycling readiness.
Working with a team of world-leading partners including the University of Sheffield, MOPO is already operating in countries including Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Chad, Sierra Leone, and Uganda, and plans to expand across the continent.
Ministers must look again at key employment proposals after sharp wake-up call from Government’s own watchdog, say small firms
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is urging the Government to address significant concerns about its Employment Rights Bill which have been laid bare this week (Monday) in a report from the official policy watchdog, the Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC).
The RPC has judged that eight of the 23 individual impact assessments (IAs) for the legislation, including some of its biggest measures, were not fit for purpose.
Responding to the findings, Tina McKenzie, Policy Chair of FSB, said: “The RPC’s findings support the concerns that FSB has been raising about the disproportionate impacts on small employers. Red rating after red rating demonstrates that the proposed legislation has simply not been thought through.
“This is a sharp wake-up call for Ministers who must think again about the dangers of a cavalier approach to jobs and work. The country cannot afford to pile further cost and risk on to small employers based on such an overwhelmingly weak evidence base.
“With the red-flagged impact assessments including high-impact measures like formal dismissal from day one, the Government must urgently do the basic work required to understand the impact of its own policies and accurately quantify the likely impacts on employers and the labour market.
“Parliament must step up and make sure it is challenging Ministers’ approach to such consequential legislation. Jobs, wages and living standards will suffer if Government fails to bring forward sensible policy or do the work to understand how and to what extent it is making employment harder and harder to provide.”
Tadcaster bus station set for £500,000 revamp
A £500,000 scheme to refurbish the gateway to Tadcaster and encourage more visitors to stay and support businesses in the town is due to begin next month.
The project will see the bus station improved and public conveniences updated.
Visitor information and real-time bus information will also be added to the area and, as part of the upgrade to the toilets, a Changing Places facility will be added making them accessible to people of all disabilities.
The project is looking to make the town more welcoming for visitors, encourage them to explore Tadcaster, and spend longer there increasing footfall. Local people were also keen to see the bus station facilities improved.
Executive member for open for business, Cllr Mark Crane, said: “The bus station and the surrounding area needs a complete refresh to be a welcoming place for our visitors and residents. It will further compliment the works previously undertaken by the former Selby District Council a few years ago.
“We hope that will then lead to more footfall in the town centre and bring a welcome boost for the shops and local businesses.”
Included in the scheme is the renovation of the Tadkebab fast food building and a deep clean to the area.
Cllr Kirsty Poskitt, who represents the Tadcaster division, said: “The bus station improvements are long overdue and very welcome. This area of the town is well used and the entryway for many people to Tadcaster.
“We’ve listened to the community and made sure that the changes are beneficial to all. The new toilet facilities and real-time bus information will both have a positive impact on those that use the area.”
The project is being managed by Align, the council’s multi-disciplinary building design consultancy, whose architects, building surveyors and engineers have all contributed to the station’s prospective upgrades.
Architectural technologist at Align, Jonathan Glew, said: “We’re delighted to be overseeing this exciting project, working alongside our council colleagues, and I’m sure it will make a positive difference to those living and visiting Tadcaster.
“We are passionate about quality construction and design. We hope these renovations will help encourage more people to spend time in the town and enjoy everything it has to offer.”
The proposed works include a small extension to an existing building to incorporate equipment to meet the needs of the Changing Places facility, replacing the existing toilet pod with a new unit, and upgrading facilities for the business tenant.
The building’s structure will also be fully renovated, the bus canopy renewed and the path will be widened and a lighting column relocated. Stonework will be pressure-washed and graffiti removed.
The scheme starts on 2 December and is due to take four months.
The Gluten Free Kitchen trebles in size following six-figure funding
The Gluten Free Kitchen has trebled the size of its business after completing its successful move to new premises at Leyburn Business Park in Leyburn, North Yorkshire.
The increase in space at the new 3,000 sq ft unit has led to sales almost doubling, enabling the team at The Gluten Free Kitchen to meet rising demand for its range of sweet and savoury gluten free, wheat free, soya free, dairy free, egg free food.
This includes a new festive range which has just launched, including Christmas puddings and mince pies as well as launching four new products with Ocado: chocolate crunch cakes, strawberry crunch cakes, goats cheese tarts and cheddar tarts.
The Gluten Free Kitchen received investment from FW Capital through the first Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund in 2023 and is now seeing their plans come to fruition. The funding allowed the business to relocate after outgrowing its previous site. The new premises include kitchen and warehouse facilities.
The funding has also supported the expansion of the team and development of new product ranges including the products made exclusively for Ocado. It has also assisted the redevelopment of The Gluten Free Kitchen website making it easier for customers to place their online orders.
Sue Fleming, Director at The Gluten Free Kitchen said: “We’d never have done the move without FW Capital and we’re delighted to be in our new premises. Our previous site was fit to burst, and we just didn’t have the space to meet increased demand and expand our ranges of treats.
“We’ve nearly doubled sales since we’ve relocated and brought in new people to support our kitchen and warehouse activities. Next year we’re hoping to further expand the team. We’re now in the midst of the Christmas run-up and excited to launch a fantastic new Christmas Pudding using a great recipe.
“We’re also going great guns with Ocado which is fantastic. The investment from FW Capital has also helped us to update our website, making it more user friendly for consumers.”
Lindsey McMenamin, Portfolio Manager at FW Capital, added: “I’m thrilled with the success that Sue and the team at The Gluten Free Kitchen are enjoying, and it is great to see the impact funding for growth can have.
“Its super to catch up with Sue and see all the exciting developments! It’s a busy time for the team in the run up to Christmas with the demand for ‘free from’ products increasing, and this new facility is allowing them to take full advantage of that!”
The Gluten Free Kitchen was established in 2005 by Sue Fleming after she saw the challenges faced by people with coeliac disease when sourcing good quality food that is free from gluten.
