Saffery strengthens audit team
Work completes on £14m project at Minsthorpe Community College
Report highlights need for life sciences grow-on space in West Yorkshire
Corporate partnership boosts children’s reading as literacy charity partners with Project Group
Durata brings fabrication in-house with Tolley acquisition
Durata, a provider of critical power and modular data centre infrastructure, has acquired County Durham-based Tolley Fabrications to vertically integrate its operations. The acquisition brings fabrication capabilities in-house for the first time, enabling the company to enhance control over quality, speed up delivery timelines, and streamline its manufacturing workflow.
This strategic deal supports Durata’s broader international growth agenda, allowing it to respond more efficiently to global demand for scalable and resilient data centre infrastructure. It also supports evolving market needs driven by AI adoption, cloud computing, 5G expansion, and rising data consumption.
The integration is expected to strengthen Durata’s competitiveness by reducing supply chain dependencies and improving responsiveness in delivering bespoke solutions to clients. The move also reinforces the company’s manufacturing footprint in the North-East of England, with an expanded presence at Tursdale Business Park and plans to create additional regional jobs.
By bringing fabrication under its direct control, Durata positions itself to deliver end-to-end infrastructure solutions with greater speed and flexibility, capabilities increasingly required in a rapidly evolving digital environment. The company aims to set new industry benchmarks in agility, reliability, and operational resilience in the data centre space.
£200m Crown Square regeneration begins in Middlesbrough
A £200 million urban regeneration scheme in Middlesbrough, Crown Square, has officially launched. The scheme aims to revitalise the town’s central area and Gresham district. The project was unveiled at UKREiiF, a national property event, and is positioned as one of the most significant redevelopment efforts in the region in decades.
Led by developers iMpeC and Buccleuch Property in partnership with the Middlesbrough Development Corporation, the scheme is set to deliver 1,500 new homes and create approximately 4,000 jobs. The first development phase includes more than 230 build-to-rent flats, purpose-built student accommodation for over 400 residents, and one of the UK’s first Fairfield by Marriott hotels. Planning permission for the initial phase has already been granted.
Crown Square aims to address the town’s historic underinvestment while leveraging its existing assets, including a major university campus with £280 million in recent investment, a growing digital economy, and the industrial expansion at Teesworks. The project also integrates mixed-use residential and hospitality developments with co-working amenities, fitness facilities, and concierge services.
A second phase public consultation is scheduled for summer 2025 as the project continues to seek business and investor engagement.
Hisense UK boosts sales by £73m as Leeds arm navigates rising costs
Hisense UK, the Leeds-based division of the Chinese electronics and appliances group, reported a £73.4 million increase in turnover for 2024, reaching £373.8 million compared to £300.4 million the previous year. Pre-tax profits also rose to £3.7 million, up from £2.8 million.
Despite the strong top-line performance, the company faced margin pressure due to a nearly 29% rise in administrative expenses, primarily driven by office relocation costs, and a 33% increase in distribution expenses. This resulted in a modest profit margin of 1.01%, slightly ahead of 2023’s 0.94%.
Hisense UK reduced its outstanding debtor balance by more than 30% to £49.8 million by offering discounts to accelerate customer payments before year-end.
Amid ongoing economic uncertainty in the UK, the company maintains a cautious yet strategic approach to growth. It aims to adapt to evolving retail dynamics and enhance brand visibility across local and international markets.
Ambitious regeneration plans take step forward in Wakefield
Shared Prosperity Fund adds £39m to York economy
City of York Council is celebrating the success of its UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) investment programme, which has delivered benefits to businesses, communities, and residents.