Chesterfield motor finance firm grows with acquisition of Leeds broker

Tess Egginton
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Chesterfield motor finance firm grows with acquisition of Leeds broker
Chesterfield-headquartered Evolution Funding is set to acquire motor finance broker Creditas Financial Solutions, subject to FCA approval. This strategic move marks a milestone in Evolution Funding’s growth trajectory and underscores its commitment to expanding dealer access to the group’s finance platform, technology, and broad lender panel. Founded in 2007 by Andy Shaw and headquartered in Leeds, Creditas employs 60 staff and oversees four Appointed Representatives. Creditas will continue to operate under its own brand as a subsidiary of Evolution Funding Group and with its existing management team at the helm. Evolution has completed several acquisitions as part of its expansion plan, including automotive Software-as-a-Service provider Click Dealer in 2021 and the motor finance broker Motion Finance in 2023. Evolution secured majority investment from global private equity firm Carlyle in July 2023, leading to significant reinvestment in the company’s platform, technology, and digital capabilities. Lee Streets, CEO of Evolution Funding, said: “The acquisition of Creditas is highly complementary. With little overlap between Creditas and Evolution Funding Group’s dealer partners, it will grow Evolution’s footprint with independent retailers. “At the same time, our technology, processes, and partnerships will enhance Creditas’ proposition for dealers, maximising its potential and driving long-term growth across the group. “We have been impressed with Creditas’ approach to motor finance, the focus they put on building relationships and doing the right thing for consumers, an ethos at the heart of our own operations. We look forward to working closely with Andy and the team to identify further opportunities and harness our mutual strengths.” Andy Shaw, Managing Director of Creditas, said: “I am delighted we have joined part of the Evolution Group. Having built Creditas up over the last 17 years now is the time to become part of a much larger entity. We are looking forward to working with Lee and his team moving forward – it’s going to open a lot of new options for the benefit of our dealers.” Creditas were advised by Peter Williams, David Kendrick, and Fraser Pirie of UHY Hacker Young (Manchester) LLP.

Immingham-based Casper Chartering buys seventh ship for its fleet

Stuart Pearcey
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Immingham-based Casper Chartering buys seventh ship for its fleet

Immingham-based Casper Chartering Limited has bought the cargo vessel MV VESPER from Norwegian owners.

MV Vesper is the latest vessel to join Casper’s growing fleet, which now has seven ships. Built in 2006, Vesper is 88.60m long and is berthed at Douglas in the Isle of Man, from where she trades within the North Sea and Mediterranean Sea alongside the rest of the fleet. Pete Buffam, managing director of Casper Chartering Limited, said: “It has been an incredibly busy start to the second quarter of this year, with our fleet spread right across our trading range. Just last month, we ensured the safe delivery of ocean freight including urea, steel coils and grain to several ports such as Denmark, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Egypt and Turkey. “We are very grateful for the guidance provided by the team at Andrew Jackson Solicitors who were able to move quickly on the purchase of MV Vesper. She is already providing much needed support and has recently returned from the German Port of Mukran, one of our regular trading routes, to transport grain back to Europe.” Dominic Ward, senior partner and head of shipping and transport at Andrew Jackson, added: “It has been a pleasure to assist Casper Chartering on its latest vessel purchase. Having worked with the Casper Group for several years, we are particularly delighted to see them strengthen their position as one of the UK’s leading cargo vessel operators.”

Sheffield student accommodation property sold

Tess Egginton
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Sheffield student accommodation property sold

Unite Students, the owner, manager and developer of student accommodation, is selling six properties to PGIM Real Estate for £184m, of which Unite’s share will be £76m.

The properties, comprising 2,948 beds, are located in Birmingham, Cardiff, Leicester, Liverpool, Nottingham and Sheffield.

The disposal is part of the Group’s portfolio management strategy to increase alignment to high and mid-ranked universities which have the strongest outlook for student demand and support sustainable rental growth.

In Sheffield the 437-bed Exchange Works has been sold.

Joe Lister, Unite Students Chief Executive, said: “These disposals continue our disciplined approach of recycling capital for reinvestment and further increases our alignment to the strongest universities.

“The growth outlook for purpose-built student accommodation remains compelling and we are tracking a number of new investment opportunities at attractive returns.”

What do you think of your town centres, Chambers ask South Yorkshire businesses

Stuart Pearcey
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What do you think of your town centres, Chambers ask South Yorkshire businesses
Businesses are being asked to share their views on what the priorities should be for their nearest town or city centre. The questions being asked in a new poll being conducted by the three regional South Yorkshire Chambers of Commerce in the South Yorkshire Quarterly Economic Survey. Wherever they are based across South Yorkshire, respondents will have an opportunity to outline what they think needs to be improved in their local urban core and where further investment is needed. Among other things, the survey will canvass their views on the cleanliness, safety, green spaces, retail offer and cultural scene of the nearest town or city centre, while also asking them to identify their top three priorities for making it a better place to do business. They will also be encouraged to highlight any examples (from around the country) of places that can serve as an inspiration for South Yorkshire and its ambitions. Urging businesses to complete The Town and City Centre Survey, the three South Yorkshire Chambers (those being the respective networks for Doncaster, Sheffield and Barnsley & Rotherham) issued the following joint statement: “By the very nature of what we do as networks, we are always interacting with businesses and, in the process, ask for their views on a myriad of topics. While there is a wide range of issues that concern our members, one thing that often comes up, totally unprompted, is the wellbeing and relative prosperity of the town and city centres we have here in South Yorkshire. “We know that this is a matter close to the hearts of many local businesspeople, which is why we have decided to give them the opportunity for their voices to be heard through our new survey. We want to know how important the notion of civic pride is to them, where they believe there is room for improvement, what they’d like to see prioritised in terms of future investment, and if they consider a flourishing centre to be something that is key to their own ambitions. “Equipped with these insights, we will then be able to gauge how great the appetite is amongst the business community for thriving city and town centres, and advocate for the changes they’d like to see. “It’s imperative that we get as many different perspectives on this issue as possible, to ensure that we have authoritative data that’s truly representative of what businesses think. Indeed, the greater the response, the louder and more informative that collective voice is.” The Town and City Centre Survey is sponsored by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and ProAktive. It is also part of the nationwide Quarterly Economic Survey, which is itself the nation’s largest independent review of business sentiment.

PM to announce measures to support UK farmers and growers

Stuart Pearcey
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PM to announce measures to support UK farmers and growers
The UK needs to reduce its reliance on overseas fruit and vegetables and back British producers, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will tell the second Farm to Fork Summit at Downing Street tiday. The announcement comes as the first UK Food Security Index published to ensure the government and sector is resilient to unexpected shocks to the market and extreme weather. Measures to be announced today include up to £3 million towards supporting small and mobile abattoirs to support British farmers; a £22m infrastructure grant for laying hens to help poultry farmers to improve the health, welfare and productivity of their flocks; a £72m fund to the Endemics Diseases Scheme to help eradicate bovine viral diarrhoea in cattle, control porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome in pigs and tackle a range of different health conditions in sheep; and appointment of a Commissioner for the Tenant Farming Sector this autumn. Mr Sunak said:“Come rain or shine, I will always back British farmers. From feeding the nation to protecting our countryside, they are vital to the security and the fabric of our country. “This package of support will help farmers produce more British food, delivers on our long-term plan to invest in our rural communities, and ensures the very best of our homegrown products end up on our plates. “I know for many farmers, the impact of adverse weather in recent months has made working the land even harder, but my message is clear, our support for you is unwavering and we will be with you every step of the way.” Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said: “Food security is vital to our national security, which is why today’s summit is so important, bringing together government and key representatives from the farming and food sector at Downing Street. “This announcement will turbocharge the growth of our horticultural sector supporting the building of cutting-edge glasshouses and innovative farming techniques to put British fruit and vegetables on our plates all-year round. “We will continue to invest in and support farmers to produce the best of British food to strengthen our food security, championing innovation in the sector.”  

Energy company donation bears fruit with creation of community orchards

Stuart Pearcey
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Energy company donation bears fruit with creation of community orchards
A donation of £6,500 by Osborne Energy has made possible 15 community orchards in the Boston, East Lindsey and South Holland areas of Lincolnshire The company delivered retrofitting schemes on behalf of the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership to eligible residents who applied for Government funding in 2022 to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Following the delivery of those schemes, Osborne Energy awarded around £6,500 funding as part of its social value commitment which has led to the creation of the new community orchards. They will all be managed and maintained locally by residents. Each will bring new health and wellbeing opportunities through connecting with the outdoors and physical activity. Volunteers will receive ongoing support to help them learn more about orchard maintenance and it is hoped that the sites will provide a focal point for future events and community gatherings such as Apple Days and Wassails. A spokesman for the council said: “It is fantastic that so many new community orchards have been created thanks to Osborne Energy’s work in delivering energy efficiency measures for our residents. “The orchards will bring people together, support our residents to improve their health and wellbeing, as well of course increase biodiversity. Trees are vital for the important role they naturally play in capturing and storing carbon dioxide as well as creating enhanced green space. Residents will also be able to enjoy the fruit from the trees, all grown and harvested in their community. “We thank Osborne Energy for the funding they have made through their social value commitment. “The orchards are an additional way we are supporting the environment following the work carried out to help residents retrofit their homes. We look forward to seeing them thrive over the coming months.”

Santander signs three-year partnership with University of Bradford

Stuart Pearcey
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Santander signs three-year partnership with University of Bradford

The University of Bradford and Santander have agreed a three-year partnership with Santander to help its students kickstart their careers.

The new partnership marks the University of Bradford as part of the bank’s UK university network, which aims to remove barriers to higher education for students by providing grants, scholarships and internships to students, and funding to budding entrepreneurs to launch and grow their businesses. The partnership with Santander includes a £150,000 package of support across the three years providing funding for University of Bradford students across three areas; education, entrepreneurship, and employability. Professor Shirley Congdon, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bradford, said: “We are delighted to be invited to join Santander’s UK university network. Santander’s university network has an outstanding reputation for helping students from across the UK and beyond to develop skills and overcome any potential barriers they may have which prevent them from achieving their future career aspirations. “We are excited to establish this partnership and look forward to delivering a range of new opportunities which make a positive difference to our students, staff, businesses and communities across the Bradford district.” Through the new agreement, one University of Bradford student will receive an annual grant of £10,000 over three years, as part of the Santander Scholars Programme, which aims to support under-represented students in higher education. On top of that, £15,000 will be allocated to support entrepreneurship and start-ups; a minimum of three budding businesses created by students will receive up to £5,000 each. The employability strand of the partnership will provide support package includes £15,000 of funding per year. Students will receive up to £1,000 each to help them towards gaining employment, which could be used to fund internships, work experience, and volunteering opportunities. The final area of support will be Brighter Future Grants which will provide 10 students with a £1,000 grant each year. These awards will be available to all students at the University of Bradford.

UK government’s committed to country’s steel industry, says Minister

Stuart Pearcey
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UK government’s committed to country’s steel industry, says Minister
The UK Government is committed to British Steel, Secretary of State Kemi Badenoch said during visits to company sites. The visits to Scunthorpe and Teesside came as talks continue with the UK Government about British Steel’s £1.25-billion decarbonisation plan and the Secretary of State said: “The government is working very hard to keep primary steelmaking capability in the UK. “This is about more than steel. It is also about economic resilience. It is about sovereign capability. It is about supply chains all across the UK that rely on steel. And one of the reasons that I am here today is to show people not just how much we care, but how much we are doing in order to ensure the steel industry in the UK survives. “This government is fully committed to UK steel. We are committed to British Steel, to the Tata steelworks in Port Talbot and of course, most importantly, to the communities who have relied on this industry for hundreds of years and whom we know will be able to continue working in steel and in the future green economy that it is going to transition to.” Detailed studies show electrification would enable British Steel to continue making the products its customers require and it has recently received planning permission to build EAFs in Scunthorpe and Teesside. Significant preparation works, including environmental and technical studies, and equipment selection, are underway to ensure the company’s ambitious proposals can be delivered at the earliest opportunity while discussions with the UK Government continue. British Steel has started preliminary talks with trade unions about electrification and has promised to support employees affected by its decarbonisation plans.

Mansfield Pollard wins ‘best place to work’ accolade

Stuart Pearcey
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Mansfield Pollard wins ‘best place to work’ accolade
Bradford-based Mansfield Pollard has been recognised by The Sunday Times as one of the Best Places to Work in 2024. This prestigious accolade is awarded to organisations that demonstrate excellence in creating a supportive and engaging work environment, and we are proud to be listed among the best. The Sunday Times Best Places to Work awards are determined through a rigorous two-part process. This includes a detailed written submission from the company and an in-depth survey of 35 wellbeing related questions completed by employees. Mansfield Pollard achieved an outstanding engagement score of 86% across our workforce.

Ramsdens Solicitors bolsters senior team with five promotions

Tess Egginton
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Ramsdens Solicitors bolsters senior team with five promotions

Yorkshire-based Ramsdens Solicitors has promoted Jennifer Slater, Katie Sharp, Jane Holroyd and Rosanna Drewery to the position of partner across its network of a dozen offices in the region. Jolene Briggs has been promoted to conveyancing manager for the Calderdale region.

Paul Joyce, managing partner of Ramsdens Solicitors, said: “As a firm, we are committed to bringing on board new talent and giving them the support they need to develop their careers with us.

“It’s fantastic to see these five knowledgeable and committed lawyers moving up in the firm, and these promotions are well deserved recognition of their contribution to the continued growth of the firm.”

Working within the firm’s private client practice at its York office, Jennifer Slater has over 18 years’ experience, including expertise in advising on wills and lasting powers of attorney.

She also specialises in lifetime tax planning, and the creation and administration of trusts and estate administration, in particular, estates with complex issues and agricultural estates. Jennifer is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and a member of the Law Society’s Private Client Section.

Having qualified as a solicitor in 2015, Katie Sharp has worked in conveyancing for over 10 years.

Based at Ramsdens’ Mirfield office, she has in-depth knowledge of the residential property industry, including the sale, purchase and re-mortgage of freehold and leasehold properties as well as new-build, unregistered and help-to-buy properties. Katie also deals with private mortgages, lease extensions and title splits.

Based at the Edgerton office, Jane Holroyd is a partner in Ramsdens’ commercial property team.

Since qualifying in 2014, she has dealt for all types of property transactions, such as the acquisition and set up of development sites, buying and selling commercial freeholds and commercial leases from both the landlord and tenant perspective, including new leases, renewals and licences.

Jane also specialises in acting for SIPP and SSAS pension trustees in respect of pension schemes’ commercial property investments.

Having joined Ramsdens soon after her qualification in 2014, Rosanna Drewery has become a partner in the child law practice and works across both West and North Yorkshire.

She has a specialism in public law proceedings, also known as care proceedings, and primarily undertakes work under the Children Act 1989, representing parents, grandparents and other family members. She also deals with special guardianship cases.

Rosanna is an accredited member of the Children’s Panel, representing children in public and private law proceedings, through their guardians.

Jolene Briggs has become conveyancing manager for the firm’s Calderdale offices in Halifax and Elland. Based in Elland, she deals with all types of conveyancing matters including freehold, leasehold, unregistered, equity, right-to-buy and auction properties.

Jolene previously worked in a property practice in Leeds for 10 years before joining Ramsdens in 2014.

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