South Yorkshire firms offered share in £3.4m to help cut carbon emissions
Businesses in South Yorkshire will benefit from a £3.4million investment to help them reduce their carbon emissions.
Running until March 2025, the project will provide support to 260 SMEs in Sheffield, Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham to help them understand the opportunities available to reduce their carbon footprint.
Businesses will benefit from a free energy audit to identify potential energy saving improvements such as low-energy lighting systems or insulation. Delivered by South Yorkshire’s local authorities, the project is part funded by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority’s Shared Prosperity Fund allocation.
Low carbon grants are also available to help businesses invest in solutions to reduce their energy consumption and costs, helping them to become more productive, resilient, and environmentally friendly. As part of the package of support available, specialist advisors will provide comprehensive advice and support throughout the process.
Karen Sherwood is the founder and owner of Cupola Contemporary Art in Sheffield. She benefited from funding to help her save on energy costs, in particular heating and lighting. She was supported to lower ceilings, install insulation and motion sensor lighting, and upgrade the boiler. This helped Karen reduce her energy usage, improve the customer experience and demonstrate commitment to reducing her carbon footprint.
Karen said: “The Low Carbon Advisor was personable, honest and responsive to my questions. I felt I was talking to somebody who understood what I might not know. They did what they said they were going to do when they said they were going to do it. Without support and match funding, I wouldn’t have been able to implement the same programme of improvements.”
Councillor Martin Smith, Chair of the Economic Development and Skills Committee said: “We know many business owners want to reduce energy costs and do their bit for the planet but it can be difficult to plan how to reduce your carbon footprint and find the money to pay for carbon saving measures.
“Specialist advisors will help businesses identify where they can make changes that save budgets and tackle the climate crisis. Low carbon grants will bring ideas into action and give businesses the financial support they need to make changes that will reduce energy costs and carbon emissions whilst improving efficiency and resilience.
“This scheme will give owners the confidence and support they need to make sustainable changes to their business, something that is crucial if we are to look after our planet and let business thrive.”
City of York plans free events to help business unlock benefits of inclusive recruitment
City of York Council has launched a series of events aimed at helping businesses to unlock the benefits of inclusive recruitment.
The York Inclusive Employer Network Event forms part of a series of events this autumn encouraging businesses in the city to be ambitious about employment for all.
It will take place at Delta Hotels by Marriott York on Thursday 28 September, with sessions running from 9.30am to 2.30pm.
The free event is being hosted by the council as part of a nationwide programme, Internships Work. It has been designed with employers in mind and will explore how young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) can help businesses meet their recruitment needs through supported internships, supported apprenticeships and work placements.
Attendees will be able to connect with other local employers, discover the support available to help their businesses develop an inclusive workforce, and hear from representatives from education, supported employment agencies, City of York Council services, as well as from young people, their parents and carers.
Book your free tickets to the launch of York’s Inclusive Employer Network.
Cllr Bob Webb, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education, welcomed the events, saying: “We understand that diversity is not just desirable, but essential for businesses to succeed in the modern marketplace.
“We see again and again the positive impacts that diversity has on all aspects of our community, including in the workplace.
“We are delighted to support these events and are committed to building opportunities for everyone in our city to learn, earn and grow.’
Simon Mahon, General Manager at the Grand Hotel York, added: “Here at The Grand York, we are committed to being an inclusive employer, and are proud to be one of York’s first Disability Confident Leaders.
“We recognise and respect the unique experiences of each and every member of our team and foster a compassionate and understanding environment where everyone can thrive and reach their full potential.
“We are thrilled to be a part of York’s Inclusive Employer Network and look forward to working alongside other like-minded organisations in our journey towards a more inclusive society. At The Grand, we believe that inclusivity should be a guiding principle that influences every aspect of service, ensuring that no one feels left behind.”
Libraries’ business support programme delivers payback for small firms
Published by the British Library, a new report called Democratising Entrepreneurship 2.0, reveals the national impact the Business & IP Centre Network has had over a three-year period ending in March this year including in the East Riding.
It shows how the Humber Partnership has continued to support entrepreneurship and economic recovery at a local level, contributing to a payback of £6.63 for every £1 of public money spent across the BIPC Network.
The BIPC in Hull and its network of libraries in Beverley, Bridlington, Goole and Grimsby are physical hubs where people can learn, network and access free and low-cost information and support in protecting and commercialising a business idea. The service comprises:
- Free access to high-quality UK and global market intelligence, customer insights and company data, combined with intellectual property advice and guidance
- Free and low cost workshops, one-to-one support and mentoring delivered by library staff and public/private sector business experts and partners
- Topical and inspirational networking events, featuring role model entrepreneurs
- Accessible and welcoming spaces with access to PCs, desks and Wi-Fi
- A comprehensive package of online support; including webinars, one-to-one business and IP advice sessions and screenings of our programme of inspirational panel discussions
Former pro footballer jailed for fraud offences
Former pro footballer Stephen Oleksewycz, 39, has been sentenced to 27 months imprisonment by Leeds Crown Courtfor fraud offences and acting as a company director while an undischarged bankrupt. He was also required to pay compensation within three months to the two creditors he defrauded.
Oleksewycz, from Halifax, started in the events promotion industry following his retirement as a professional footballer due to injury. He established his company, ‘An Exp With Ltd’, in February 2016 with himself as sole director but he was made bankrupt later that year due to an outstanding debt of over £16,000.
Individuals who have gone bankrupt are subject to certain restrictions, in particular it is a criminal offence for a bankrupt to act as a company director, or to manage or promote a company, without express permission obtained at court.
Oleksewycz did not have permission, however he continued to act as a director of An Exp With Ltd, which he used to deliver ‘An Experience With’ event in February 2017 involving Conor McGregor, the mixed-martial arts fighter.
The fraud offences related to this event, where Oleksewycz sent fake documents to the venue company, EventCity, and the company streaming the event, Groovy Gecko.
When both companies contacted Oleksewycz to advise they had not received their fees to run the event, Oleksewycz sent them doctored bank documents purporting to show the payments had been made, as a stalling tactic in the days leading up to the event. This succeeded, and both companies felt they had to proceed in the hope the lack of payments were due an honest mistake and would be addressed, or risk the event collapsing.
However, after the event took place Groovy Gecko did not receive any payment and was owed over £15,000. EventCity was paid just £5,000 of the outstanding total, which was nearly £80,000. Both companies were then informed that An Exp With Ltd had gone into liquidation.
Glenn Wicks, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said:”Acting as a company director while being an undischarged bankrupt is a serious offence, and to compound this Stephen Oleksewycz deliberately defrauded two businesses who gave him the benefit of the doubt to run an event despite their concerns about his behaviour.”
Plans submitted for The Square at York Central
A Reserve Matters planning application has been submitted for the new Square at York Central, following a series of events where members of the public shared their ideas to shape its design.
Plans for The Square at the York Central development were submitted for approval by Homes England and Network Rail Limited on behalf of the York Central Partnership. It marks the next significant phase of the development since outline planning permission was granted by City of York Council in 2019.
Formally referred to as RMA3 (The Square), the application details the proposed layout, scale, appearance and access for creating a new public space with associated infrastructure and landscaping. It also includes suggested alterations to the existing road network, in line with the design guide and outline planning considerations.
Initially anticipated to be submitted in Spring 2023, the submission was delayed to gather additional feedback from members of the public, partners and wider stakeholders within York. A series of in person and online events were held from November 2022 to June 2023 for people to share their views on emerging plans and help shape the designs.
Natalie Webster, senior project manager on behalf of Homes England and Network Rail, says: “Key feedback which has informed the design has been around safety for pedestrians and cyclists, accessibility, lighting and planting. Greenery and community public space were important to many people too, as well as linking with wider phases of the development.
“We’ve listened to what people wanted and worked closely with the wider design and planning team to incorporate as much of this feedback as possible into the latest planning application. There have also been some great ideas that are not suitable for this particular area of the scheme but could work well elsewhere on the site and we will consider these where appropriate.”
York Central is one of the largest city centre brownfield regeneration sites in England, with £135m public sector funding already secured to build key upfront infrastructure. Infrastructure work began in Summer 2022 to build over two kilometres of new roads plus public footpaths and cycle ways, as well as new utilities and the building of two new bridges over the East Coast mainline.
It will also provide up to 2,500 homes, at least 20% of which will be affordable, create over 1 million sq ft of commercial space for offices, retail and leisure and provide a significant boost for the local economy with potential to create up to 6,000 jobs.
The plans for The Square have been validated by City of York Council and will now be considered by its planning team, with a decision expected by the end of 2023.
Acquisition completed at building in the heart of Leeds
Two floors at The Granary, Leeds have been snapped up by White Rose Education.
The Granary is a Grade 2 listed local landmark with a history dating back to 1777. The building is in the heart of Leeds and has been substantially redeveloped to offer 20,000 sq ft of office space.
Tony Staneff, founder of White Rose Education, said: “We are delighted with The Granary. The property has recently been substantially redeveloped and is now one of the most advanced office buildings in Leeds.
“Our ten year commitment to the building is part of a growth initiative and we will use this as offices, training facilities and media work. We expect over 80 staff members to eventually work from the property.
“Schofield Sweeney have been absolutely fantastic guiding us through this transaction in particular dealing with very tight timescales and for accommodating our bespoke needs.”
Pardeep Khela, director, Schofield Sweeney, said: “I am thrilled to get this deal over the line. The transaction was substantial in terms of value, complexity and timescales. A big thank you to Tony at White Rise Education and Elizabeth at Knight Frank for their help on this. I look forward to working together on new projects in the future.”
Summit Media appoints two new senior roles
Hull-based performance marketing specialist, Summit, has expanded its team, making two new hires to help manage company growth. Holly Hanford, talent partner, and Molly Simpson, HR advisor, are the latest two recruits following a wave of senior hires earlier this year.
As talent partner, Holly is now responsible for managing the full recruitment process across the agency, from advertising vacancies and screening CVs, to headhunting and arranging interviews.
With several new roles to fill at the moment, Holly’s work at Summit is already booming as the company continues to search for more talented people in the Hull tech community to join the team.
Summit’s new HR advisor, Molly, also participates in the recruitment process, advising managers on staff matters, as well as delivering exciting new initiatives to drive staff engagement, with a particular focus on policy and processes.
Although only in the first few weeks of her role, Molly has already identified and begun to implement impactful cultural initiatives such as delivering diversity and inclusion training, staff engagement surveys and focus groups, and progression planning.
Prior to joining Summit, Holly worked extensively in recruitment for over 13 years, managing up to 70 vacancies per week across a range of different industries.
Molly also brings a breadth of experience to the role, having previously worked in HR for three years at a food manufacturing company, while studying for her CIPD Level 5 with the hopes of becoming a Chartered member.
Speaking of the new role, Molly said: “Summit felt like the right fit for me due to the carefully crafted people culture that is already blooming.
“I’m really excited to be aiding in the continued development of the culture here at Summit, and to be maintaining Summit’s reputation of being an employer that cares about its team. I’m hoping to further contribute to the positive energy of the staff and strengthen the bonds between ‘Summiteers’.”
Holly added: “I joined Summit as I wanted to be part of a company where I knew skills and experience are recognised and valued.
“This is the first time Summit has had a ‘talent partner’ to focus solely on recruitment so I can’t wait to become the ‘go to’ for securing the best talent in line with our strong core values. I already know I work with a brilliant team so I am looking forward to building on those relationships as a true Summiteer.”
Emily Redfearn, head of operations at Summit, said: “Holly and Molly are two new excellent recruits for the business and exactly what we need right now as we continue to expand and plan to grow even further over the coming months.
“Summit prides itself on its work culture, commitment to our values, and developing talent, so the task ahead for Holly and Molly is incredibly important to the business. We’re excited to see what new ideas they bring to the business.”
Virtual demo platform used by major biotech firms secures £1m
A company whose software enables equipment manufacturers to give virtual demonstrations of their products to potential buyers worldwide has raised £1m from NPIF – Mercia Equity Finance, which is managed by Mercia and is part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.
Envoke’s virtual demo platform is used by some of the world’s biggest biotech equipment manufacturers and removes the need for them to ship out equipment and send sales staff to visit buyers in distant locations.
The funding will allow the Leeds-based business to further develop the platform and take part in more international trade exhibitions to boost its sales worldwide. The company, which currently employs 16 people, expects to create a further ten jobs in the year ahead.
Envoke was developed by Stuart Warrington and sprang out of his film and animation business, Superla, which he founded in 2012 to produce corporate videos for customers such as Santander and Barclays. The platform was developed in 2019 for Thermo Fisher Scientific, a US-based multinational which makes analytical equipment such as PCR and blood testing machines and was seeking a better way to showcase its products to remote customers.
Envoke, which incorporates gaming technology, is now used by other leading global manufacturers including Bio-Rad, 10X Genomics, Roche and Illumina. Following the funding, the company is also planning to create a new after-sales module to enable manufacturers to provide ongoing customer support.
Stuart is now CEO of Envoke while the original business, Superla, is run by his wife Lucie Warrington. Stuart says: “Customers buying medical equipment will of course want to trial it first, but shipping costs can be £5,000 to £30,000 or more, not to mention the cost of sending out sales staff to demonstrate it. Sometimes equipment is damaged in transit and not every demo results in a sale.
“Our platform creates a virtual version of the product that enables manufacturers to save huge sums and reduce their carbon footprint. The funding will enable us to extend its functionality to cover after-sales support and allow us to make further inroads into the US market, where the leading biotech companies are based.”
Will Clark of Mercia added: “Companies are increasingly moving to online sales, however video conferencing alone is not sufficient for product demos.
“Thanks to their background in games development, Stuart and the team have created a powerful platform that in our view is the most advanced of its type on the market. Envoke is already used by five of the world’s biggest biotech companies and this investment will help the company to reach a much wider audience.”
Approval granted for Hull & East Yorkshire Local Skills Improvement Plan
The Local Skills Improvement Plan for Hull & East Yorkshire has been approved by the Secretary of State in line with the approval criteria set out in the Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022, and in accordance with the LSIP Statutory Guidance.
The Hull & East Yorkshire Local Skills Improvement Plan (HEY LSIP) is a three-year plan that sets out to place employers at the heart of the local skills system, to ensure that our current and future workforce are equipped with the skills and attributes that meet the needs of employers and the local area.
Through the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce’s engagement activity with local employers, the LSIP focuses on five key themes: technical skills; educational teaching professionals; employability skills and behaviours; careers guidance being aligned with local opportunities; and accessibility.
For Technical skills, the HEY LSIP wants to ensure the supply of and demand for technical skills matches the needs of employers to ensure vacancies are filled, productivity is amplified, and employers are able to thrive. With this, however, there is a need to address concerns that there are insufficient numbers of educational teaching professionals who are able to deliver the courses and provision that employers seek.
Employability skills and behaviours was by far the most significant skills concern that was being raised by employers. Employers believe that the workforce being equipped with these skills, and the right behaviours, is the primary stepping needed to progress within their careers.
Employers also reported a misalignment between careers guidance and employment opportunities within Hull & East Yorkshire. There also appears to be a lack of knowledge relating to what careers guidance activity is carried out locally. This is a theme that needs to be addressed to support the other priorities detailed within this LSIP, and ensure local jobs go to local people.
Finally, accessibility consists of four threads: accessibility of information on matters that affect businesses and organisations; accessibility of information relating to training and provision, including funding; accessibility of provision pathways for those considered to be at a disadvantage; and accessibility for support in assessing future skills needs. These are areas that the HEY LSIP is keen to address.
The HEY LSIP sets out a Roadmap for the region to address these key themes identified by employers. The success of the HEY LSIP will be reliant on collaboration and transparency between key stakeholders, providers and employers and the Chamber is keen to lead on this work to ensure the successful delivery of priorities set out within the LSIP.
Phil Ascough, chair of the HEY LSIP Board, said: “Approval of the LSIP is excellent news and reflects and rewards the immense effort undertaken by the LSIP team in completing an arduous procedure.
“It also demonstrates the value of the input from hundreds of local businesses of all sizes who add up to a huge resource and an immense and valuable pool of talent and expertise. We look forward very much to taking the LSIP forward with their help, and to generating further private sector involvement.”
Debra Gray, principal at Hull College and representing the Humber Principals Group on the HEY LSIP Board, added: “We are delighted to work with fellow colleges and training providers across the region to deliver the skills needs of the future via our local skills improvement plan (LSIP).
“The LSIP captures the skills our employers have identified as key to inward investment and business growth. When businesses and educational providers work together to create prosperity, we are an unbeatable team to deliver on the government’s levelling up agenda. This includes a strong focus on decarbonisation, clean energy and leading-edge digital skills.”
Medical company expands into new Rotherham HQ
Sheffield solicitors Wake Smith has helped a global manufacturer and distributor of healthcare equipment expand into bigger premises with the £850,000 purchase of a new Rotherham HQ.ISO-registered Sheffmed manufactures and distributes ENT suctions and instruments across the world and is relocating after 20 years into 8,395 sq ft at Salisbury House on Centurion Business Park in Rotherham. Wake Smith advised Sheffmed, which employs 15 people, on the commercial property work while the Sheffield office of Knight Frank acted for owners toolmakers Troy (UK) Ltd on the sale.Sonia Hobson, Managing Director at Sheffmed, which started out in an office at Aizlewood’s Mill in Sheffield, said: “We have grown out of the old place on Clifton Street and were looking for something with more space for our existing team and our resources. It will be a new experience for us being on an established business park but we are really looking forward to the move and being amongst like minded business people.“We are currently undergoing some work in the warehouse to give us a mezzanine floor and a clean room which is essential for our work with medical instruments and are hoping to be in before November.“This is the right decision for our business and we even have a nature reserve nearby which is ideal for walking our dogs at lunchtime.”Ben Spencer, director in Wake Smith’s commercial property team who acted on the purchase of Sheffmed’s former base at Clifton House in Sheffield 10 years ago, advised on the new purchase and business estate requirements.He said: “We’re pleased to have worked again with Sonia to bring the purchase to fruition. This is a growing firm and we wish Sonia and her team the best of luck in their new base.”Harry Orwin-Allen, senior surveyor at Knight Frank in Sheffield, said: “Centurion Business Park is an established commercial location with fantastic links to the national motorway network. “Salisbury House, which forms part of the wider estate, is a modern hybrid business unit which offers a range of good quality office space and full height industrial warehouse accommodation with yard and loading, which offered Sheffmed opportunity to expand their operations further within the region. “The market for similar property to purchase remains robust in the Yorkshire area and, on behalf of our retained client, it was great to secure a committed purchaser in Sheffmed. It was a pleasure dealing with Sonia and her team, who acted swiftly throughout the process.”
