Projekt Renewable was named the winner of the Engaging the Community | Community Project Award, in partnership with Blackrow Wind, at the Offshore Wind Connections Humber Renewable Awards that took place in early May at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Hull.
Projekt Director Rich was there on the night, saying: “I honestly didn’t think we’d stand a chance given the other projects that had been shortlisted. “The win is for everybody that was in the room on the night – PRG (Projekt Renewable, Grimsby) is one of several projects working to bridge the gap between community and industry. And in an industry that is moving as rapidly as renewables, that conduit and channel of communication is vital. “The judges summed it up for me, ‘It’s very easy for big companies to pledge some money to a community project, but it’s really hard to do it the other way around and build something of substance from the ground up’.” Conceived 2021, designed 2022, delivered 2023 – PRG exists because Projekt Director, Richard Askam, was tasked with creating something in the centre of Grimsby to inspire the next generation. The world knows Grimsby for its fishing heritage but its flourishing renewable energy sector and the opportunities that lie within it, exist and operate largely out of sight. An educational and cultural hub, Projekt Renewable, Grimsby has been created to inspire the next generation of renewable energy experts through a ‘destination’ full of energy and immersive experiences. Creating a better environment for the future of our planet and the generations to come, with homegrown talent at its core – this is what Projekt Renewable embodies. Designed and built from shipping containers, re-purposed to house a podcast and YouTube studio along with visitor experiences from the likes of RWE, The Crown Estate, NSPCC, myenergi and others – Projekt Renewable has quickly gained national notoriety as Government and industry seek to bring the public on the journey to Net Zero.Raft of new businesses join 3M Buckley Innovation Centre
3M Buckley Innovation Centre (3M BIC), a subsidiary of the University of Huddersfield, has welcomed a raft of new businesses from a range of sectors including packaging, property finance, vet diagnostics and formulation testing.
Urolith, ECO PACK, Crafted and the Charlesworth Family Group have taken offices and labs at the 3M BIC leaving only a few remaining spaces at the centre.
Urolith Diagnostics is a start-up business and aims to improve pet healthcare by accurately detecting the composition of kidney and bladder stones in animals using state-of-the-art spectrometry. The data can be used by vets to determine the best treatment for the pets.
ECO PACK specialises in developing and commercialising sustainable packaging solutions for Food, Beverage and Pharmaceutical companies that supply to major FMCG retailers.
Part of the 2M Group of Companies, Crafted works with personal care start-ups as well as established brands to help them realise their brand ambitions, from creating new products, upscaling a successful and growing line or expanding a range.
The Charlesworth family has been in business in Huddersfield since 1928. It became the Charlesworth Family Group following the sale of its printing company in 2010 and publishing division in 2015. The Group initially formed as a vehicle for property investment, but soon branched into investing and providing finance and services for small businesses. It has worked across several industries and countries for over 20 years.
3M BIC’s CEO, Sue Cooke, said: “It’s fantastic to see innovative businesses becoming part of our community, many of which benefit greatly from our in-house facilities and access to the University of Huddersfield for recruitment and knowledge exchange opportunities.
“They are all from very different sectors and at different stages of growth, so we are looking forward to supporting the businesses to thrive over the coming months and years.”
Martin Leeming, Managing Director of ECO PACK, said: “As we scale up, we need to have the right infrastructure in place to deliver the projects we already have and to recruit the talent that we need.
“Access to 3D printing and the expertise available from the Engineering and Business functions at the University of Huddersfield is the perfect way for us to leverage our own in-house design expertise and provide challenging and rewarding projects to students.”
Other businesses at the 3M BIC include Ionix, Surfachem, Bailey Walsh & Co and Kromek, that have all had a base at the 3M BIC for over a decade, as well as the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), the centre’s anchor tenant. FIS Information Systems, Water Industry Forum, Simplifai, the Institute for Educational and Social Equity and Kent Pharma are also based at the 3M BIC.
Lincoln specialists assist in roll-out of farming industry tech to alleviate labour shortages
Specialists from the Lincoln Institute for Agri-food Technology at the University of Lincoln have contributed world-leading expertise to assess how the rapid roll-out of robotics and automation technologies could alleviate labour shortages in the UK’s food supply chain.
The University of Lincoln is at the forefront of industry-aligned research and development to drive forward innovations in the sustainability, efficiency, and productivity in the UK’s £100bn+ food and farming sector. This track record has been recognised with awards including the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Further and Higher Education in 2023.
From establishing the world’s first doctoral training centre to train the next generation of agri-tech innovators, to launching award-winning spin-out companies deploying world-first technological solutions in-market, Lincoln’s teaching and research is supporting agri-food businesses across the country to supply the nation with the high quality, affordable, sustainable food.
Professor Simon Pearson, Founding Director of the Lincoln Institute for Agri-food Technology, co-chaired the independent Automation in Horticulture Review in 2022 with Defra Secretary of State George Eustice. The Independent Review into Labour Shortages in the Food Supply Chain, led by John Shropshire, published a year later, addressed related challenges and opportunities in the roll-out of automation technologies across the sector. Both reviews were prompted by concerns about labour market constraints in the post-Brexit food supply chain highlighted in the UK Government’s National Food Strategy in 2021.
Professor Pearson said: “The announcement today is a significant and welcomed intervention from the Government to drive productivity in the critical UK horticulture sector. The intervention supports the long-term sustainability of the sector and underpins the production of affordable and healthy fresh produce for all. In addition, it will help upskill our workforce with state-of-the-art robotic and automation technology.”
New figures show SMEs have turned UK away from recession, says BCC
The British Chambers of Commerce says new GDP figures are a welcome sign that the UK has moved away from last year’s shallow recession.
Head of Research David Bharier says businesses across the UK have been the driving force behind the recovery.
“Firms have shown resilience in the face of multiple headwinds and this estimate should give business and investor confidence a boost.
“However, significant challenges remain. The UK has seen waves of economic and political uncertainty in recent years, from inflation to skills shortages and trade barriers with the EU, which have weighed down on its growth potential. Our latest surveys show that most SMEs are still not increasing investment.
“With signals from the Bank that their next move will be an interest rate cut, it is now essential that policymakers show businesses a clear plan for growth to unlock their economic potential.”
Future Humber delegation takes regional message to London
Future Humber brought together a 15-strong delegation of partners in London to spotlight the Humber’s ambitious vision for industrial decarbonisation at Innovation Zero 2024. The event, now in its second year, attracted thousands of attendees to London Olympia, driving conversations and actions towards a sustainable, low carbon future.
Supported by the UK Government, Innovation Zero is the UK’s largest sustainability conference and provides a meeting place for announcements, partnerships, deal-making, and collaborations for those who develop, produce, deploy, and fund low carbon solutions. At the forefront of London Olympia stood the Humber Pavilion, showcasing representatives and projects from leading partners Air Products, Arup, Aura, Drax, Equinor, Humber Freeport, Meld Energy, Oh Yes! Net Zero, Phillips 66, Prax, px Group, SSE Thermal, Uniper, the University of Hull and VPI. With more than 10,000 delegates visiting , the Pavilion served as a hub for engaging discussions and networking opportunities, allowing attendees to delve into the region’s decarbonisation initiatives through interactive displays and engaging conversations with partner representatives. Diana Taylor, MD of Future Humber, said:”As a region, the Humber is at its strongest when it aligns with a single, consistent voice. The decarbonisation agenda is perhaps the greatest example of cross-sector collaboration we have seen to date. The Humber Pavilion at Innovation Zero is a true show of force and statement of intent from our region and serves as an important reminder that the Humber simply has to play a critical role on a national stage to drive the UK to net zero.”SME confidence creeps back, but interest rate ‘hold’ was a missed opportunity, says FSB
“Our most recent research into small businesses’ economic prospects supports the argument for a summer cut in the rate. Nearly three times as many small firms rated the availability and affordability of new finance as ‘poor’ than rated it as ‘good’ in the first three months of this year, according to our most recent Small Business Index, while the proportion of successful new finance applications among small firms dropped to the lowest level recorded since this time last year.
“The domestic economy is cited as by far and away the biggest concern with regards to future growth prospects, while the second-most commonly cited barrier to growth is consumer demand. Keeping the rate at its high plateau for longer than absolutely necessary will make it much harder for small businesses to think about growth and investment, which is what will be needed for the economy as a whole to get out of its pattern of near-zero growth.
“We’ll know today whether we are formally out of a recession, but the tentative recovery seen in the first part of this year is still fragile. Small firms’ confidence is returning – in part because they are anticipating rate cuts this year. There is only so long they can wait, which is something we would urge the Bank of England to bear in mind.”
UK exits recession
The UK has moved out of recession, with new figures showing the economy grew by 0.6% in the first quarter of the year.
Strong economic growth in March (0.4%) contributed to the strongest quarterly growth since the fourth quarter of 2021, when the economy was still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was influenced by growth across the services sector and manufacturing, while construction output fell.
GDP (gross domestic product), a key measure of economy growth, had been predicted to rise 0.1% month-on-month and 0.4% in the quarter.
Ben Jones, CBI Lead Economist, said: “Back-to-back increases in output over the first months of this year suggest the UK is now on the road to recovery. With falling inflation boosting households’ spending power, as well as opening the way for a reduction in interest rates in the months ahead, the economy should be able to sustain some momentum through the year.
“But a consumer-led recovery could prove short-lived without more determined action to tackle the long-standing problem of weak productivity growth, which ultimately sets the UK’s economic speed limit.
“Firms want to see action that could help support investment and cut costs which, includes extending full expensing to leased and rented assets, and a business tax roadmap to give firms the certainty and confidence they need to plan ahead and invest in a vibrant UK economy.”
Secretary of State tours British Steel’s Scunthorpe railmaking plant
Secretary of State Kemi Badenoch has visited British Steel at Scunthorpe as talks continue with the UK Government about the company’s £1.25-billion decarbonisation plan.
She was shown the UK’s only plant making rails, where the company is to build one of two electric arc furnaces as it undertakes the biggest transformation in its history on the road to net zero.
British Steel President and CEO Xijun Cao said: “We were delighted to welcome the Secretary of State to British Steel and to reiterate the vital importance of safeguarding the future of steelmaking in this country.
“Our world-class rails help transport people and goods throughout the UK, forming a critical part of Britain’s infrastructure. We will shortly open a new £10-million rail storage facility at our Scunthorpe site, and we’re unique in delivering 216-metre lengths of rail for installation in Britain’s railways – a service that reduces delays for rail users caused by maintenance.
“We’re also the UK’s only manufacturer of constructional steel, and a leading supplier of wire rod, special profiles and semi-finished steel – products that all keep Britain on the go. It is therefore imperative that if Britain wants to secure its sovereign steelmaking capability, the UK Government supports our plans to transform into a clean, green and sustainable business.”
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.
British Steel has started preliminary talks with trade unions about electrification and has promised to support employees affected by its decarbonisation plans.
Xijun added: “We are confident our proposals, which are subject to appropriate support from the UK Government including the adoption of the correct policies and frameworks, will help secure the low-embedded carbon steelmaking the UK requires now and for decades to come.
“We are committed to working with the UK Government and need to reach an agreement quickly so we can achieve our ambitious goals, secure thousands of jobs and keep making the steel Britain needs for generations to come.”
British Steel prepares ground for new furnace – and new industrial opportunities
Significant preparation works are ongoing at British Steel in Scunthorpe after the company was given planning permission to build an electric arc furnace at its Scunthorpe site.
British Steel is pressing ahead to discharge planning conditions as well as undertaking environmental and technical studies to ensure its proposals can be delivered at the earliest opportunity while discussions with the UK Government continue.
Cllr Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “The council’s planning committee has approved the application for British Steel to build an electric arc furnace on its site in Scunthorpe. The application met local and national planning policies.
“Work is ongoing to consider site masterplan opportunities to attract green jobs to the 300-acres of surplus land at the steelworks.
“There is an opportunity to create something new, attracting innovative technology companies here to Scunthorpe on an underdeveloped site of industrial heritage.”
At the beginning of April, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council approved British Steel’s application to build an EAF at the company’s Teesside site.
The new furnaces would replace the aging iron and steelmaking operations in Scunthorpe which are responsible for the vast majority of the manufacturer’s CO2 emissions. The company proposes maintaining current operations until a transition to electric arc steelmaking.
Dior heads to France for Worldskills competition this autumn
Lincoln apprentice painter and decorator Dior Regan has been selected to represent the UK on the world stage in France later this year.
Dior, who works for Lindum Group and studies at Lincoln College, is one of 31 young people heading to the WorldSkills contest in Lyon in September.
All aged under 25, Team UK is made up the finest apprentices and students from across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Dior was selected after successfully demonstrating her painting and decorating skills at the European finals in Poland in September last year.
From the 10th to the 15th of September, 1,500 young people from 65 countries will strive for gold, silver, or bronze awards in their chosen in discipline, which includes cyber security, renewable energy, digital construction, cooking, hairdressing as well as construction skills such as painting and decorating, cabinet making and joinery.
Ben Blackledge, Chief Executive, WorldSkills UK said: “WorldSkills Lyon 2024 – think Olympic Games – where the prize is the world-class skills that UK employers are crying out for.
“The UK’s participation in the ‘skills Olympics’ will provide vital insights to ensure we can develop our apprenticeship and training programmes, to make them truly world-class.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the exceptional young people in Team UK; they are fantastic role models. We will use their participation at WorldSkills to boost the prestige of technical and vocational education, inspiring many more young people to take up technical and vocational training across the UK to help drive investment, jobs and economic growth.”
Dior, who lives in Lincoln and went to Christ Hospital School, began her apprenticeship with Lindum in July 2021. She has since excelled in her craft, earning praise for her accuracy, painting, tidiness and preliminary marking out and measurements.
Lindum Co-Chairman Edward Chambers said her selection was testament to both Dior’s talent and determination and to her colleagues, who have supported her training and growth. “We are really proud of Dior and are delighted to see her abilities being showcased on a world stage,” he said.
