West Bar flagship building is handed to Sheffield City Council

Stuart Pearcey
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West Bar flagship building is handed to Sheffield City Council

Legal & General has formally handed over No.1 West Bar Square to Sheffield City Council, the first of a collection of modern, sustainable office spaces within the comprehensive £300m regeneration of West Bar.

When complete, the scheme will deliver office buildings totalling 500k sq. ft. of workspace that will support up to 6,000 jobs in a strategic location next to Sheffield city centre and the Kelham Island neighbourhood.

No.1 West Bar Square acts as an impressive and sustainable gateway to West Bar. There are eight storeys of columnless office floorplates up to 14,000 sq ft behind a contemporary, curved, curtain glass façade.

Andrew Kail, CEO Legal & General Institutional Retirement said: “This marks a key milestone in the transformation of Sheffield West Bar, where we aim to create a vibrant new community for people to live, work, and play. Bringing this previously derelict space back to life is an example of how we are using pension capital to drive positive change across the UK, investing in valuable infrastructure and urban regeneration.”

Ben Rodgers, Head of Regeneration, L&G Asset Management added: “We’re one step closer to delivering our vision for West Bar: to provide a much-needed new quarter for the centre of Sheffield, fulfilling our commitment to the city’s housing, jobs, and strategic regeneration.

“This important scheme will drive innovation, social impact, and economic growth, strengthening Sheffield’s position as a leading UK city. We’re delighted with progress made so far, and look forward to continuing our partnership with Urbo, Sheffield City Council, and the local West Bar community”.

Sheffield councillor Ben Miskell said: “This is a fantastic moment in the regeneration of Sheffield and marks the completion of a soon-to-be iconic building on the city’s skyline. Our vision for West Bar is an incredibly exciting one and will add to the appeal of the city centre being a place to live, work, and enjoy.

“Sheffield is transforming into a clean, green, and vibrant city, with many brilliant areas offering residents and visitors alike a whole host of things to do, see, love, and enjoy. The new West Bar community fits in perfectly with our vision for the city and, as it continues to grow, will draw more people, businesses, and visitors to it.”

Phase two plans for West Bar will start soon, and include a second Legal & General-funded, 100,000 sq. ft. office building, and a 450-space multi-storey car park. Further phases will ultimately provide a million sq ft of mixed-use accommodation, of which over 500,000 sq ft will be Grade A office space.

Keighley health supplement supplier secures grant to expand production

Tess Egginton
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Keighley health supplement supplier secures grant to expand production
A health supplement supplier from Keighley has used a grant from the Keighley Towns Fund towards expanding its production. Bio-Nature Ltd, which employs 30 people, packs and distributes natural health supplements and body care products for manufacturers and distributors within the UK, and also ships on behalf of clients to export markets. The business put the £25,145.20 grant, from the towns fund’s Capital Assistance to Business Growth programme, towards buying equipment to set up a second packing line at its base on Admiral Way, due to increased demand from current customers and interest from other potential customers. Financial Controller Chris Procter said: “This welcome capital investment will increase production capacity and efficiencies within the business. We’ll be able to increase our range of processes which will bring new opportunities as we are able to develop new markets. This growth means we anticipate we’ll be able to create four new jobs. “The process of applying for the grant was smooth, and we were well-supported. It has part-funded what is an exciting new chapter for us, and we are looking forward to continued success.” Bradford Council’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Transport and Planning, Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw said: “The Council’s Economic Development Service can provide advice and guidance on applying for one of these grants. It’s fantastic to hear of the funding being put to such good use here, creating more job opportunities in Keighley, and we wish Bio-Nature all the best for their expansion.” Chair of Keighley Town Board, Tim Rogers added: “The Keighley Towns Fund is proud to support a growing Keighley business, with money from the Capital Assistance to Business Growth programme. There is more funding available for other businesses in the area to apply so we’d encourage people to contact us if they think they might benefit.” The Towns Fund Capital Assistance to Business Growth Programme Funding is available up to March 2026.

Trio of new appointments amid continued growth for Leeds marketing agency

Tess Egginton
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Trio of new appointments amid continued growth for Leeds marketing agency
Strategic marketing agency, Fantastic, is continuing its growth trajectory with a trio of new appointments. The Leeds-based agency has appointed a web developer and two account executives to bolster its digital and client management offering following a raft of new client wins, including modular building specialist Thurston Group and bathroom manufacturer Trojan. Joining the team as web developer is David Balionis, who brings four years of experience in eCommerce solutions and custom web development for brands including automotive paint supplier Soll Automotive Paints. His expertise spans numerous platforms including Shopify and WordPress, and he is well versed in responsive, semantic, and accessible web design. Chloe Kerfoot joins Fantastic Media as an account executive from Hatch Group with three years of digital marketing and social media experience. She will deliver integrated marketing campaigns for a diverse array of clients in sectors including manufacturing, retail and sports. Emelia Lowis has also joined the team as an account executive, on a placement year from Leeds Beckett University, where she studies business management with marketing. Emelia has already contributed significantly to the agency’s B2B and B2C projects, applying her academic knowledge in a practical environment. Fantastic’s founder and CEO, Andy Hobson, said: “With the strong growth the business is experiencing, we’re excited to expand the Fantastic team to help us meet our target of £2m revenue this year. “Chloe, David and Emelia bring a blend of experience and talent which will further strengthen our ability to deliver and continue to maintain the high standards our clients expect from us. “Because we specialise in delivering marketing consultancy, driven by strategic insight, we also sit at the client’s boardroom table as trusted advisors, advocates and specialists. It’s crucial therefore that our team is smart and experienced enough to understand and support those client needs. Our new recruits are a testament to this.”

Catering company goes back to school to launch pioneering partnership business

Stuart Pearcey
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Catering company goes back to school to launch pioneering partnership business

City of York Council has let pioneering food delivery business School Kitchen get established in the city by offering school catering facilities as a base for takeaway restaurants.

The company works in partnership with schools, taking over their kitchen facilities during the evenings and over the weekends. From these bases they run home delivery takeaway restaurants, with customers able to order from a wide range of world cuisines, from Sri Lankan to Mexican. The scheme delivers a boost to school funding, with schools receiving a share of the business’ revenue. Partner schools can also benefit from free cookery demonstrations and classes with pupils. School Kitchen MD David Nicholson outlined some of the challenges he faced when setting up a new business as a newcomer to the city. With support from Brian Littlejohn, one of the council’s Business Growth Managers, and Steven Lydiatt, a business advisor from Momentic’s Start and Grow York programme, David was able to tap into a wealth of local business expertise. Brian and Steven helped connect David to local suppliers and business networks, advised on marketing strategies to establish the new brand and reach consumer bases in York, and signposted him to local opportunities to grow the business. David said: “Establishing School Kitchen in York has been an incredible journey, made possible through the invaluable support from City of York Council and Momentic’s Start and Grow York programme. “The guidance and connections have been instrumental in navigating the challenges that come with setting up a new business and we are deeply grateful for their ongoing assistance and encourage other start-ups to take full advantage of the resources available here in York.” Cllr Pete Kilbane said:  ” School Kitchen is a great example of what can happen when the city council and its partners support innovating start-ups. “York’s food scene continues to thrive, and if businesses out there could do with a hand to get started and grow, then we want to hear from you. If your idea can also bring much needed funds back into the community then we are doubly keen! “In our council plan, One City for All, we committed to building a fair, thriving and green economy, and it’s wonderful to see that David chose York as the perfect place to get his business embodying these same values off the ground – I’d encourage anyone thinking of starting a business here to get in touch with us to discover how our expert business support team can help.” Building on their initial pilot at Carr Junior School in Acomb, School Kitchen has further expansion planned, aiming to open new restaurants operating out of a second school in York, as well as locations in Leeds, London and Sheffield.

Sewell employees come out top in national FM award scheme

Stuart Pearcey
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Sewell employees come out top in national FM award scheme
Sewell Facilities Management’s Operations Team has won ‘Team of the Year’ in the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management Impact Awards, after being chosen as the best team in the industry by a panel of 50 independent judges. Sewell Facilities Management is a Hull-based company offering facilities management services across the North of England, with a specialism in managing buildings across the education, health, community and workspace sectors. Providing hands-on support 24/7, 365 days a year, they pride themselves on the relationships they build with their customers, getting to know both their customers’ buildings and their people, and developing a bespoke service tailored to their individual needs. Sewell Facilities Management MD Sean Henderson said: “I’m so proud of the hard work each and every member of the team has put in over the past year, and I’m delighted to see their dedication and willingness to go the extra mile has been recognised on a national stage. “Although the team has achieved some fantastic results in 2024, they’re still determined to continue in their mission of moving from good to great. There are already plans underway to add to the team with another graduate, grow our existing offer of in-house services, and deliver further on our own carbon reduction plan, as well as helping our clients with their transition to net zero.” A diverse team at different stages of their careers, the Operations Team are key account holders for the company’s clients, with their aims being to wow their customers with their problem solving skills, keep all the facilities they manage in day one condition, and ensure they provide first-time fixes wherever possible. Notable successes for the team in the last year have included creating a new packaged water hygiene service to offer customers, becoming qualified drone pilots to carry out aerial surveying and over-performing against sustainability targets. The team also began working with a new client, ensuring staff at 17 schools across the North of England had a seamless transition to the company’s facilities management services. IWFM Chair Mark Whittaker said: “The IWFM Impact Awards recognise and celebrate our profession’s work, namely the outstanding professionals who push our sector forward to achieve excellence and recognition for the critical services we provide.”  

Schofield Sweeney names a trio of new hires

Stuart Pearcey
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Schofield Sweeney names a trio of new hires
Yorkshire-based Schofield Sweeney has expanded its corporate team with a trio of appointments. Saby Sambhi has joined the firm as a director after previously working at Blacks Solicitors. He has over a decade of experience acting for clients of all sizes, with extensive experience in the holiday and home parks, manufacturing and tele-communication industries. Ben Stephens has joined the team as a solicitor. His specialisms include acquisitions and disposals, management buyouts and buy-ins, franchising and pre-pack insolvency transactions. He has joined the firm from Weightmans, having qualified in August 2020. Liam Murphy started his training contract with Schofield Sweeney in September 2022, after working across several teams in the firm including dispute resolution and real estate, he qualified as a solicitor in September into the corporate team, where he has been based for the past year. Steven Millward, partner in the corporate team said: “It is an exciting time for the team and the Firm as we expand and build upon our already strong offering. 2024 has been another year of growth for us as a team and we have visibility of a strong pipeline of activity over the coming months. We now have a team of 25 dedicated corporate specialists with expertise in a range of sectors and are well positioned to help collaborate with our ambitious clients as they seek to execute their strategic aims and objectives We are delighted to be recognised as a Times Best Law Firm and a Sunday Times Best Places to Work. Schofield Sweeney continues to go from strength to strength, and the calibre of new recruits reflects this.”

Yorkshire Chamber acclaimed as one of the UK’s best

Stuart Pearcey
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Yorkshire Chamber acclaimed as one of the UK’s best
The West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce has been confirmed as one of the leading Chambers in the UK at the association’s annual ceremony in London. With 52 accredited British Chambers of Commerce in the UK and a further 80 across the world, the West and North Yorkshire Chamber is within the top five for innovation, breadth of services, business support, membership retention, partnerships, digital marketing events and international services. James Mason, Chief Exec of the Chamber said: “It’s wonderful to be recognised in this way and I’d like to place on record our thanks to all the Chamber team, our Board and members for their hard work over the last 12 months. “They deserve the recognition that comes with this accolade and should be rightly proud. It is an honour to represent our part of the world regionally, nationally and globally. “The businesses we work on behalf of are the real winners. Onwards and upwards.” West & North Yorkshire Chamber received the award after being shortlisted alongside Chambers representing employers in Wirral, Herefordshire and Worcestershire and Suffolk and eventual winners Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce. The nomination included details about West & North Yorkshire Chamber’s hugely successful trade mission to New York City in May, which shone a spotlight on the volume and quality of business connections between Yorkshire and the United States and led to some very successful transactions and connections being formed between the two regions.

Government plans to bring ‘buy now pay later’ companies under control of the FCA

Stuart Pearcey
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Government plans to bring ‘buy now pay later’ companies under control of the FCA
The Government wants to bring Buy-Now, Pay-Later companies under the supervision of the Financial Conduct Authority and apply the Consumer Credit Act to them a move intended to ensure users receive clear information, avoid unaffordable borrowing, and have strong rights when issues arise. Buy-Now, Pay-Later products have become increasingly popular in recent years as they allow people to spread the cost of purchases over time, but users currently do not have access to a range of key protections provided by other consumer credit products. Economic Secretary to the Treasury Tulip Siddiq said: “Millions of people use Buy-Now, Pay-Later to manage their finances, but the previous government’s dither and delay left them unprotected.

“Our approach will give shoppers access to the key protections provided by other forms of credit while providing the sector with the certainty it needs to innovate and grow.”

The new rules will allow the FCA to apply rules on affordability – meaning that Buy-Now, Pay-Later companies will have to check that shoppers are able to afford repayments before offering a loan, which will help to prevent people building up unmanageable debt. Companies will also need to provide clear, simple and accessible information about loan agreements in advance so that shoppers can make fully informed decisions and understand the risks associated with late repayments. Consumer Credit Act information disclosure rules will be disapplied so that the FCA can consult on bespoke rules that ensure users are given this information in a way that is tailored to the online setting in which Buy-Now, Pay-Later products are generally used. Buy-Now, Pay-Later users will be given stronger rights if issues arise with products they purchase, making it quicker and easier to get redress. This includes applying Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, which allows consumers to claim refunds from their lender, and access to the Financial Ombudsman Service to make complaints. Rocio Concha, Which? Director of Policy and Advocacy, said: “Which? has been a leading voice calling for the regulation of Buy Now Pay Later for years so it’s positive that new rules are coming in that should provide much-needed protections for users of these products. “Our research found that many BNPL customers do not realise they are taking on debt or consider the prospect of missing payments, which can result in uncapped fees, so clearer information about the risks involved as well as the use of affordability checks and options for redress would be a win for consumers.

“We are keen to see legislation quickly passed to ensure that BNPL users are protected as strongly as consumers using other credit products.”

Council seeks farmers and landowners to become part of Northern Forest scheme

Stuart Pearcey
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Council seeks farmers and landowners to become part of Northern Forest scheme
Farmers, landowners, nd smallholders are being sought by North Lincolnshire Council to help creating a piece of woodland that will become part of the Northern Forest, an ambitious plan to plant 50 million trees across the country from Hull to Liverpool. The council is looking for any land that can be used to plant trees through its woodland creation offers, which include: • Woodland and hedgerow creation of many shapes and sizes • Shelterbelt creation, protecting areas of land from strong weather, particularly wind • Agroforestry systems – the integration of trees into a farming system • Riverside planting and natural flood alleviation • Gapping-up and replanting of hedgerows and woodland The council works with the Humber Forest, Woodland Trust and the Forestry Commission as well as volunteer groups who will help with planting and aftercare. They have already been involved in several large and small scale plantings across the region, in both rural and urban settings. Newly-planted trees in North Lincolnshire will be registered on the tree counter on the council’s website which keeps track of the ultimate aim of planting 250,000 trees in North Lincolnshire. It is part of the council’s Green Futures commitment to making North Lincolnshire greener, more sustainable and a better place to live and work for generations to come.

Insight agrees 15-year lease on Rotherham AMP property

Stuart Pearcey
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Insight agrees 15-year lease on Rotherham AMP property

Harworth signed a 15-year lease with Insight for a new Grade-A Industrial & Logistics building at Rotherham’s  Advanced Manufacturing Park.

Insight will use the 73,000 sq ft unit as a major European Solutions Integration Centre, bringing together a number of operational processes under one roof, including distribution, technology lab services and agile office space.

Jonathan Haigh, Chief Investment Officer at Harworth, said: “Insight is a global leader in its field and its decision to choose our Advanced Manufacturing Park to support its expansion plans is testament to the quality of space on offer, and appeal of the location. The AMP has established itself as an international centre of excellence for advanced manufacturing with its designation as part of the UK Government’s first Investment Zone, and we are proud to have played a role in its creation.

“We continue to focus on delivering high quality Industrial & Logistics schemes across the Midlands and the North of England in undersupplied markets where we are seeing strong demand from a wide range of businesses.”

The AMP is a major hub for manufacturing in the UK, and home to global businesses including Boeing and Rolls-Royce, as well as the UK Atomic Energy Authority and McLaren Automotive Composites Technology Centre.

Construction of a new 80,000 sq. ft. headquarters for Technicut, a specialist tool cutting manufacturer, is currently on site, with a further 0.4 million sq. ft. of consented developable space available.

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