Entrepreneurial hub opens at University of Huddersfield
A new space has opened at the University of Huddersfield, with the purpose of supporting entrepreneurs and small business owners develop their creative ideas.
Titled the ‘Maker Space’, it will allow people the opportunity to use specialist tools and equipment they might otherwise not have access to.
The Maker Space is a collaborative project between the University of Huddersfield and Business Kirklees – Kirklees Council’s business, economy and growth service – and Santander Universities, and is housed in the University’s Barbara Hepworth Building.
Maker Space was officially launched at an event in the Barbara Hepworth Building, where students and budding entrepreneurs pitched their ideas at an audience including local business people, members of Kirklees council and University academics. Santander Universities director Matt Hutnell was in attendance to mark the occasion, offering their continued to support for student and graduate entrepreneurship at the University.
The offering will specifically be open to businesses and entrepreneurs who are engaging with Business Kirklees or the University of Huddersfield’s Enterprise Team around developing their business, with the aim of helping them learn new skills and develop ideas.
With access to a wide range of equipment – encompassing everything from 3D printers, Arduino and sewing machines to Apple Macs with Adobe creative software – entrepreneurs will be able to develop in every aspect of the creative process to spur their business along.
As well as offering access to specialist equipment, the Maker Space will provide a physical place for creatives to come together and work alongside like-minded individuals.
The Maker Space is a £71,895 investment, and Kirklees Council have contributed £30,000 of this funding through a revenue grant to help kickstart the project. This funding covers the Maker Space for an initial six-month trial period, running up to 30 September 2023. Whether the project continues beyond September will be based on its success and uptake.
While this Maker Space is open specifically to young businesses, plans are also being developed to open another Maker Space in North Kirklees which will be less business-focused and available for use by the general public.
David Shepherd, Kirklees Council’s Strategic Director for Growth & Regeneration, said: “This is a fantastic initiative which will allow young businesses the opportunity to work with the kind of state-of-the-art resources and learning they might otherwise not have access to.
“The Maker Space has so much to offer, and I hope to see people using it to really develop their creative ideas, products, services and business plans, and to create new connections with like-minded people – something that’s invaluable when you’re building a business. This is a fantastic addition to the support we already provide for small businesses, start-ups and entrepreneurs in Kirklees.”
University Vice-Chancellor Professor Bob Cryan CBE added: “This is a wonderful collaborative effort and I’m really excited about the possibilities that the Maker Space holds for students and graduates from the University of Huddersfield and for the wider community.
“The resources that we are providing, from Arduino to overlockers will lead to the creation of new opportunities, new businesses and innovation. I urge people to find out more and see what they can do in the space and with the resources.”
New Sheffield premises for specialist prosthetics and orthotics company
STEPS Prosthetics, a specialist prosthetics and orthotics company, has acquired a new site on Little London Road in Sheffield.
STEPS Prosthetics was launched last year by directors Colette Shaw and Peter Durkin, who have over 20 years’ experience in delivering private, bespoke prosthetics and orthotic solutions following serious injury.
They design, manufacture, fit and support amputee clients, and work in partnership with STEPS Rehabilitation to be the only provider of residential amputee rehabilitation services in the UK.
Independent law firm Taylor Emmet LLP supported STEPS Prosthetics on the move. Led by senior associate Richard Whiteley, the firm’s commercial property team acted as legal advisors to STEPS Prosthetics, and helped settle the terms of the lease involved, working with the landlord of the site to complete the legalities less than a month after receiving the draft documents.
“As a young company, we are delighted to be making this move to larger premises so soon after launching,” says director and founder, Colette Shaw. “Having a larger workshop, consultation and rehabilitation space allows us to support more clients who have suffered life-changing injuries following an accident. Last year we also opened our first satellite outpatient clinic based at Neural Pathways in Gateshead, Tyne & Wear. Being able to work out of three different premises allows us to give an enhanced level of service to clients.”
Richard said: “We were delighted to advise STEPS Prosthetics as the company moves into a state-of-the-art new home. The building on Little London Road is part of a development which was built four years ago. We have advised on the acquisition of other retail units in the same location, enabling us to swiftly complete the necessary legalities on behalf of the STEPS Prosthetics team. It is great to see the site now fully occupied.”
New laws introduced today aim to prevent rip-offs in the online economy
New legislation is being introduced today to ensure businesses and consumers are protected from rip-offs and can reap the full benefits of the digital economy with confidence.
Fake reviews that cheat customers, subscription traps that cost more than a billion pounds a year and new powers for the Competition and Markets Authority to tackle businesses that breach consumer rights law are all elements of today’s far-reaching Bill.
In competitive markets, firms strive to give consumers the best products, most choice, and lowest possible prices. The Bill will provide the CMA with stronger tools to investigate competition problems and take faster, more effective action, including where companies collude to bump-up prices at the expense of UK consumers.
The CMA will be able to directly enforce consumer law rather than go through lengthy court processes. The reforms will also heighten the consequences for wrongdoers as the CMA and the courts will have the power to impose penalties of up to 10% of global turnover for breaching consumer law.
Today’s Bill will also enable the Government to ban the practice of facilitating fake reviews or advertising consumer reviews without taking reasonable steps to check they are genuine. New rules will ensure consumers can exit subscriptions in a straightforward, cost-effective, and timely way and require that businesses issue a reminder to consumers when a free trial or introductory offer is coming to an end.
This will help deliver one of the Government’s five priorities to grow the economy by increasing consumer choice and confidence in the products they buy and services they use.
Business and Trade Minister Kevin Hollinrake said: “Smartphones and online shopping have profoundly changed the landscape for businesses, consumers and the foundations of a modern thriving economy, which now lie in strong consumer choice, confidence and competition.
“From abuse of power by tech giants, to fake reviews, scams and rip-offs like being caught in a subscription trap – consumers deserve better. The new laws we’re delivering today will empower the CMA to directly enforce consumer law, strengthen competition in digital markets and ensure that people across the country keep hold of their hard-earned cash.”
Repair Shop regular expands footwear business with backing from Finance Yorkshire
Footwear repair and restoration business Yorkshire Sole is expanding into new premises with investment from Finance Yorkshire.
Owner Dean Westmoreland – a regular on the BBC’s The Repair Shop – is opening a second shop which will see him start to make his own bespoke shoes.
A £25,000 investment from Finance Yorkshire’s micro loan fund is enabling Dean to fit out his new space at Sunny Bank Mills, Farsley, and equip it with stitching, pressing and finishing equipment used in the repair of shoes and boots.
Dean, 38, launched his business in 2017 after spending 15 years working in the cobbler trade. He plans to keep his Shipley store open to serve the local community while his new 500 sq ft unit will be known as Yorkshire Sole Shoemakers and Restorers.
Dean said: “Cobbling is the original recycling and it’s really important that the trade is protected. It is a craft and I’m still learning all the time.
“I needed more space to do repairs and move into making shoes under my own name. The investment from Finance Yorkshire is huge – it’s the first time I’ve had new machinery. It has changed my life and the life of the business and where I can positively take it.”
Yorkshire Sole is an authorised repairer for the brand Redwing. Dean plans to sell its shoes and those of the Loake brand at Sunny Bank Mills. “I want it to be a destination which promotes the shoemaking and repair trade and where people can experience the craft of cobbling,” said Dean.
Alex McWhirter, chief exec of Finance Yorkshire, said: “Dean is passionate about his craft and its heritage. He has already demonstrated his expertise to a wide audience, and he now has the opportunity to showcase the skills involved at his new premises.
“Finance Yorkshire’s financial investments support companies across Yorkshire and the Humber to grow and realise their ambitions. We are pleased to support Dean and his business as he expands and continues to promote the art of cobbling.”
Finance Yorkshire’s micro loan fund is part of its wider regional business fund which is expected to provide more than £50m to SMEs over the next five years. Investment is also available from its business loan, growth and seedcorn funds.
Employee ownership helps to drive up revenue by 60% for West Yorkshire company
Employee ownership allows companies to outperform their competitors in respect of KPIs including productivity, staff retention and absenteeism – and as such can be the key to business success, according to one Yorkshire business.
With employee-ownership growing by bout 10% annually, it’s a model that’s working for Horizon Platforms, which operates from Normanton near Wakefield and has been employee owned for two years.
As an employee-owned business, employees have the potential for annual bonuses associated with company performance, but do not directly own shares, allowing ownership to be transferred without the team needing to source funds to buy into the business.
Recently recognised by Best Companies, formerly the Sunday Times List, as one of the top 100 mid-sized companies to work for in the UK, Horizon became the first powered access company to become employee-owned in February 2021. Since then to has gone from strength to strength, with revenue growth reaching about 60%.
CEO Ben Hirst said: “I believe that even before becoming employee-owned, Horizon Platforms had already created an aligned, empowering, and collaborative culture. There’s no question though, handing ownership to the team via an Employee Ownership Trust has enhanced it further.
“I link my thinking around this to two innate human needs – security and purpose – and I find it helpful to reflect on some similarities to home ownership. I guess it is safe to say that the majority of us wish to, at some point in our lives, own our own home. This provides us, and our families with security. I also regularly come across people who dream of building their own homes, wishing to influence the look and feel of a place they not only own but will spend significant time within.
“Allowing great people the opportunity to enjoy the security of working in a business they collectively own, as well as the opportunity to craft the look and feel of that same business plays straight into these human needs. Hence why I was, and still am, thrilled to have been able to facilitate this for the team here at Horizon Platforms.”
Offshore Wind Connections Conference returns to Hull next week
Associated British Ports will highlight its work across the offshore wind sector at this year’s Offshore Wind Connections Conference being held at The Doubletree by Hilton in Hull next week,
Celebrating its tenth anniversary, the conference and exhibition promises to provide invaluable information and contacts for companies that are well-established in the sector and for those looking to enter or diversify into the market.
ABP have recently launched its sustainability strategy, Ready for Tomorrow, backed by a plan to invest £2 billion in decarbonising its own operations by 2040 at the latest and in major infrastructure projects to enable the wider UK energy transition. For ABP this includes continuing to develop its leading offshore wind manufacturing and support hubs.
ABP Humber Region Director Simon Bird said: “The Humber is one of the UK’s largest industrial clusters. Along with driving economic growth the region will play a critical role in supporting the delivery of the UK’s Net Zero objectives. The Humber Ports already play a vital role in supporting the biggest hub for offshore wind in the World. We will continue to invest to ensure we maintain our role as the place to be for green energy solutions in the UK.”
ABP’s Port of Grimsby is strategically located adjacent to the world’s largest offshore wind farm, Hornsea 2. It is the UK’s largest offshore wind operations and maintenance port, supporting wind-farm operators and the wider supply chain.
Green Port Hull, the UK’s world class centre for renewable energy, was developed with a £310m ABP and Siemens Gamesa partnership investment. Offshore wind turbine blade manufacturing, assembly, and servicing facilities make up its centrepiece. Siemens Gamesa’s facility is set to double in size as development in the North Sea accelerates.
To further enhance the area’s offer, the Humber Freeport’s ambitious business plan aims to energise investment and growth across the offshore wind energy sector for years to come, bringing 7,000 new high-quality jobs.
ABP is in a unique position to support the acceleration of the UK’s energy transition by providing the necessary port infrastructure to support offshore wind that will help to create a more sustainable future and deliver the significant investment, economic growth, and thousands of new, high-quality jobs in local communities.
University of Sheffield spin out raises £2.2m Seed funding for machine tool AI
Productive Machines, an artificial intelligence (AI) startup from The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), has raised £2.2 million in Seed funding to make its advanced machine tool process optimisation technology available to a far wider range of manufacturers worldwide.
UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund (UKI2S) led the round with participation from NPIF – Mercia Equity Finance, which is managed by Mercia and part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, ACT Venture Partners and Fuel Ventures, alongside grant funding from Innovate UK.
Alexander Leigh, investment director for UKI2S and Future Planet Capital Group, said: “We are thrilled to cornerstone this investment into a UK-based deeptech University spin out from Sheffield.
“We are excited by the technology’s ability to reduce energy consumption by up to 25 per cent, in addition to the improvement in surface quality, yield, and waste reduction, all of which offers the potential to bring high value jobs back to the UK in the machining industry.
“We are particularly pleased that as an Innovate UK investor partner we enabled Productive Machines to successfully apply for £700,000 in non-dilutive grant funding alongside the investment round.”
Productive Machines will use the funding to deliver its AI technology as a fully-automated Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) product. This funding will enable Productive Machines to expand its team of eight people to more than 20.
Founded by Dr Erdem Ozturk (CEO) and Dr Huseyin Celikag (CTO), Productive Machines is commercialising the results of a six-year AMRC research project on machining dynamics. This research covered process and machine tool interactions, including how cutting forces and resulting vibrations affect machine tool performance.
Productive Machines has developed a powerful computational model to predict and mitigate the influence of these harmful vibrations at every stage in metal and composite milling jobs. It uses a digital twin to determine the best parameters for each machine tool and production run, eliminating wasteful configuration experiments and ensuring that milling jobs are right the first time.
The technology has already been deployed at ten major manufacturers, including Renault and MASA Aerospace. Machines configured by Productive Machines can produce parts in half the time it took originally and deliver significant surface quality improvements due to the mitigation of chatter vibrations created by instability in machining processes. Users report that cutting tools last up to 30 per cent longer on optimised machines.
Productive Machines is developing a network of partners to take its technology to market. These include measurement technology specialist Kistler, metal cutting solutions company Seco, and various other machine tool and cutting tool manufacturers.
Dr Erdem Ozturk, CEO at Productive Machines, says: “Manufacturers want to reduce costs, improve quality and cut carbon emissions. But most don’t want to buy complex software products or hire PhD-level engineers to make them work.
“We are meeting all of their goals. The results of our research and innovation are proven with major manufacturers, and this investment enables us to make the significant benefits more accessible to manufacturers of all sizes, anywhere in the world.
“Our cutting-edge technology is already best-in-class in a $400 billion industry ripe for optimisation. There are three million machines in the world that would be more accurate, productive and sustainable with our AI, and we are removing the cost and skill barriers to its adoption.”
Doncaster MPs field questions from South Yorkshire businesses
All three Doncaster MPs and the City Mayor have gathered to debate the pressing issues of the day and field questions from businesses in their constituencies.
Organised by the local Chamber of Commerce, this breakfast event took place at the Warmsworth Holiday Inn and was attended by more than 90 delegates. With an agenda that covered everything from Levelling Up and Net Zero, right through to the campaign to save Doncaster Sheffield Airport, no subject was off the table and businesses had the opportunity to broach any relevant topic.
Exploring these issues was a panel including Nick Fletcher, MP for Don Valley, Ed Miliband, MP for Doncaster North, Dame Rosie Winterton, MP for Doncaster Central, and Ros Jones, Mayor of Doncaster.
Reflecting on the event Doncaster Chamber Chief Exec Dan Fell, second from the right in the picture, said: “We always strive to amplify the voice of our members, and to give them an effective platform when it comes to debating the issues that are keenly affecting them.
“Friday’s session was a prime example of this, as we covered a lot of ground, with businesses asking constructive questions and sharing insights with those who are empowered to make a real difference on their behalf. I am confident that we will see many tangible outcomes arising off the back of this event, just as we did with our previous MPs Breakfast in October.
“And now is certainly the time for everybody to be putting aside their political differences and uniting for the betterment of Doncaster and its people. It is right for Team Doncaster partners to act as critical friends in private but, in public, we should be showing a united front. Not just to local communities and businesses but to central Government also.
“We are at a point of jeopardy for the country and Doncaster. Inflation continues to soar, the labour market is incredibly tight, and the macro-economic environment across the country remains dispiriting. Closer to home, we have also seen our airport close — and NCATI will sadly be following suit in the near future — while we narrowly missed out on the bid to become the HQ for Great British Railways as well.
“Against this backdrop, Doncaster needs a win and the best way to achieve this is to work collaboratively, share ideas, and talk up our city. It was encouraging to see our MPs give up their time to listen to businesses and explore what more can be done to help our city prosper. I hope they left the event understanding the high level of expectation from Doncaster employers, but also seized of the need for positivity and cross-party working.”
Farmison & Co acquired by Yorkshire consortium led by well-known retailer
Farmison & Co, the sustainable online meat retailer, was today (24 April) acquired by a consortium led by well-known Yorkshire retailer Andy Clarke and Chilli Marketing’s Gareth Whittle, Christian Barton and Kieron Barton for an undisclosed sum.
Over the course of the coming weeks, the consortium intends to recommence operations at Farmison’s production facility in Ripon, North Yorkshire, and return the business to being an important employer in the city.
Gareth Whittle is the former founder and Managing Director of Chilli Marketing and a board member of Farmison prior to administration. Together with Christian and Kieron Barton, the Chilli team powered the rise of the Rekorderlig cider brand in the UK and ten countries across the world.
The consortium will work with the whole leadership team to firstly stabilise the company after a difficult year and then devise and implement a growth strategy.
Andy Clarke, who was Chief Executive Officer of Leeds-based Asda from 2010-16, will become executive chairman of Farmison.
Acknowledging the vision of John Pallagi who co-founded the business with Lee Simmons in 2011, Andy said: “While unable to navigate the economic difficulties of the last 12 months, John’s ‘eat better meat’ mission that sits at the heart of Farmison’s business, is one we believe has significant potential for growth.
“And as a retailer brought up on a farm in Yorkshire, I know how producers across the region appreciated Farmison’s commitment to the best producers who could provide the highest quality meat to customers.
“That’s why I’m very excited about Farmison’s prospects. We have an opportunity to scale this business and further develop both its direct-to-consumer and wholesale plans, building on the ethos and values of what Farmison stands for.
“Nevertheless, there is much work to do to get the business back on its feet and trading again – not least re-engaging with Farmison’s important network of farmers across the region and re-employing colleagues.
“In the short-term, our goal is to bring financial stability to the business, and we’re committed to re-energising Farmison’s long-term vision so it can take advantage of the growth opportunities that are undoubtedly available to it.”
Arvindar Jit Singh, joint administrator and partner at FRP Advisory, said: “We are thrilled to have been able to secure a buyer for Farmison who is able to recommence trading and bring jobs back to Ripon.
“There had been significant interest in purchasing the business and assets of Farmison and a number of serious offers had been put forward in recent weeks, but the proposal from the Consortium provides the best opportunity of both re-establishing the business and maximising returns to creditors.
“We wish the team every success as they take the business forward.”
In the course of the coming weeks, the consortium expects to re-open Farmison’s website and will update customers and suppliers with its plans in due course.
Farmison & Co sells online directly to customers across the UK, and through wholesale channels such as Harrods, Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason and Michelin star restaurants.
Grants available for businesses coming up with ideas for art projects in Lincoln
Lincoln Creates is inviting artists and businesses to submit ideas for creative art projects to take place across the city.
Awarding grants ranging from £500 – £5,000 to help support costs, the projects could be installations, sculptures, exhibitions, street decorations, performances and/or workshops.
This fund aims to encourage artists and businesses to work together on visual art projects which will make Lincoln City Centre a more vibrant place to live, work and/or visit.
Sue Bell, Project Consultant at Lincoln Business Improvement Group said:“We’re looking forward to seeing some exciting projects come forward for this third round of Lincoln Creates! This is a brilliant opportunity to revitalise the high street and bring the city centre alive with vibrant and creative artwork”.
An earlier project commissioned by Lincoln Creates was the Piecing Us Together Trail – 40 beautiful puzzle pieces were created by local artist Mel Langton and were placed in businesses windows around the city.
Through art, this jigsaw puzzle has showcased and celebrated the quality and diversity of businesses based in Lincoln City Centre! The Piecing Us Together project had great success with both the businesses and public.
Other previous Lincoln Creates projects include:
- Writing Wild Workshops: with artist Ruth Charnock located at Lincoln’s Liquorice Park and Happy Culture Café
- Wigford Way Bridge 2.0: with artist James Mayle and Luke St Clair-Pedroza located at Brayford Waterfront
- Giant Jeans Installation: with artist Kerry Gibson
- All We Need Is Love Projections: with artists from Different Light outside House of Fraser
- The Joiners Arms Bike Stands: with artist Kenny Roach and Landlord Paul Mann
- Dinos on the Loose Storybook: with artist Sian Ellis
- City Centre Stories: with artists Beth Lambert and Laura Mabbutt from Brew Projects
- Download the Application Guidance and Application Form from the Lincoln BIG website: https://www.lincolnbig.co.uk/projects/lincoln-creates
- Complete the Application Form
- Submit to: OliviaDexter@lincolnbig.co.uk by 5pm on Friday 28th April
