First new office development to complete in Leeds tops out
CEG welcomed the leader of Leeds City Council and other stakeholders in the city to its flagship Globe Point development yesterday (3/3/22) for a topping out ceremony.
BAM Construction commenced the development in May 2021 on behalf of CEG and is set for full completion this summer.
Providing next generation workspace for over 400 people, the 37,800 sq ft seven-storey building on Globe Road is striking, with its flat iron design providing spectacular views across the city from the roof terrace gardens.
Responding to occupiers’ expectations and the new ways of working, Globe Point will deliver some of the highest quality workspace in Leeds, along with ground floor break-out space and café kitchen.
Councillor James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council, said: “This is a really exciting milestone, not only for the Globe Point development, but also for the regeneration of Leeds’s Temple district and the wider South Bank area.
“High-quality projects like Globe Point are a sign of the strength of the Leeds economy as we continue our recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and redouble our efforts to deliver jobs and opportunities for all. It promises to be a worthy and very impressive addition to our city’s skyline.”
Globe Point will be the first new build office to complete in Leeds City Centre this year and is the first of CEG’s developments to complete within the Temple district of the city. CEG is currently managing the transformation of Drapers Yard, on Marshall Street, for Labcorp’s life science centre of excellence. The new headquarter facility will boast a new façade, roof top amenity space with a green, sedum roof and new landscaping and planting.
CEG, alongside Leeds City Council and other stakeholders, is bringing forward further development across the Temple district, with the potential to provide some 4 million sq ft of high quality accommodation with Temple Works at its heart as a cultural centrepiece.
Nick Lee, director at CEG, said: “Globe Point will deliver much needed new workspace within Leeds City Centre. The quality of the building and the approach to people and sustainability led design will set the tone for future developments within Temple. We are really excited about the buzz in Temple and the number of people living and working in the area continues to grow, supporting the fantastic bars, restaurants and other amenities, including our events space partnership with Chow Down.”
Urban tree experts brought in to support £11.7m Queens Gardens redevelopment
A company with a track-record of delivering urban tree planting projects all over the world has been appointed to deliver specialist tree planting within the £11.7m Queens Gardens redevelopment.
Founded in 1992, GreenBlue Urban was set up to research and provide solutions for assisting trees and helping them become established in urban spaces.
Councillor Daren Hale, leader of Hull City Council and portfolio holder for regeneration, said: “The tree planting is a hugely important component of the Queens Gardens project.
“The improvement in variety, foliage and layout is vital in creating the outstanding urban green space that we will all soon be able to enjoy.
“We know how important it is to get tree planting right. The current perimeter of the park has suffered and has been damaged due to trees that were not planted correctly, or were planted without consideration for how they would grow and develop; this has damaged not only the trees, but also boundary walls.
“By bringing on board a company with such an exceptional track-record in delivering and planting trees in urban spaces, we will avoid making the mistakes of the past and can be confident that we are delivering an exciting project for both the short and the long-term future of the city.”
GreenBlue Urban is the UK’s market leader in specialist tree pit products. The company will supply and install 13 urban tree pit systems within the Queens Gardens redevelopment. These systems will be located on the northern and southern edges of the development and will prevent trees from damaging the new perimeter and boundary walls of the park.
A wide variety of trees will be planted elsewhere in the gardens, and the wider city centre, as part of the Queens Gardens redevelopment.
The first stage of works will see the planting of the first Metasequoia tree – a species of conifer known as redwoods. Metasequoia trees are fast-growing and can grow to 30 metres in height.
The tree is one of the dozens of trees, of various size and majority, that will be planted during the project.
Some of the trees within the planting scheme are on the endangered species list.
The first stage of the £11.7m Queens Gardens redevelopment has begun and is expected to be completed in June 2022. The second and final phase of the works will begin this summer, with completion expected at the end of 2023.
The Queens Gardens refurbishment is an integral part of the Hull: Yorkshire’s Maritime City project as it will link the Hull Maritime Museum to the North End Shipyard – which will be the new home of the historic Arctic Corsair. The shipyard is being transformed into a new visitor attraction, which will tell its rich story for the first time.
Six more leading businesses join forces with Hull’s employer-led school
Leading businesses aiming to shape their future workforces have partnered with Hull’s Ron Dearing University Technical College (UTC) to equip students with highly sought-after industry skills.
The Ofsted Outstanding-rated school has a host of Founding Partners, Major Partners and Partners comprising of many of the region’s foremost companies.
Now, six more businesses have committed to opening up further exciting opportunities for students and helping them gain key industry-standard knowledge and skills as they prepare for their future careers.
Global energy company Equinor, asset integrity engineering company IRISNDT, managed IT service provider and cyber security specialists Jupiter IT Solutions and specialist rural internet provider Quickline have become Major Partners. In addition, BACB Renewables and Pneumatic Engineering Ltd have become the employer-led school’s latest Partners.
Norwegian-based Equinor is the largest individual supplier of oil and gas to the UK and is investing heavily in low carbon and renewables solutions, particularly hydrogen and carbon capture, in the Humber.
It is responsible for Dogger Bank, which will be the world’s largest offshore windfarm, situated in the North Sea off the East Yorkshire coast and capable of powering 5% of the UK’s electricity demand. Hydrogen to Humber (H2H) Saltend, to the east of Hull, is its flagship project which aims to decarbonise Saltend Chemicals Park and kick-start a zero carbon Humber by producing hydrogen from natural gas in combination with carbon capture and storage.
Tanguy Cosmao, Equinor’s Project Director at H2H Saltend, said: “This could be the first project of its kind in the UK and, if it gets the go-ahead, we’ll need people to work on it, and we want young people to be familiar with the technologies involved.
“We’re keen to explore the potential to take on apprentices from Ron Dearing UTC and offer work placements as our workforce of the future in the energy sector. We’re really impressed by how Employer Partners can help to shape the curriculum and have active involvement and we’re proud to be a Major Partner.”
IRISNDT is an international blend of asset integrity engineering and non-destructive testing (NDT) companies providing a range of engineering, inspection, testing, heat treatment and software services to the renewable, petro/chemical, oil/gas, utility and transportation industries across the globe.
The business employs 1,500 employees in Canada, Australia, the USA and the UK, including offices at Saltend Chemicals Park in Hull and in Immingham.
IRISNDT, which took on one apprentice from Ron Dearing UTC last year, plans to take on a further two this year. It will also provide equipment, live demonstrations and technicians to guide students on industry knowledge and skills, and offer work placements.
Director Lee Richardson said: “We need to invest in youngsters coming through and give them an insight on how our business and the inspection industry works. If you can give someone a head start coming out of school, they’ve already got the fundamentals in place. We’re really looking forward to seeing how the partnership develops.”
Hull-based Jupiter IT Solutions provides managed IT support services and complete IT infrastructure expertise to businesses across Hull and the Humber.
Infrastructure Director Dan Gladstone said the business is helping to enhance IT modules studied by the UTC students and further equip them with the latest skills to give them the edge in the industry.
He said: “We’d like to take on trainees from the UTC and we’re looking at what skills we’d like them to have. If we pass on these skills and knowledge to them, it will help the IT industry as a whole to provide a better service to their customers.
“Ron Dearing UTC’s approach is unique and also about culture, hard work, mindset and attitude. It’s fantastic to work with the school.”
Hessle-based Quickline connects rural communities with superfast broadband in East Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire, as well as North and West Yorkshire. It has grown from just five staff to more than 100 since 2008, with further plans to continue considerable growth this year.
Claire Hickey, HR Director at Quickline, said: “Ron Dearing UTC looks at education differently and does everything it can to prepare students for work. Fortunately for us, this includes focusing on the engineering and technical skills we’ll need as a business in the future.
“We’re growing quickly and feel the partnership will benefit Quickline, the UTC and the local area. We’re excited to be able to input into the curriculum and projects, supporting Ron Dearing to develop stars of the future.”
BACB, based at Ergo in Hessle, are renewables consultants and holistic decarbonisation experts, providing services including solar, battery, heat pumps and biomethane and hydrogen fuels.
The company, which aims to reduce carbon and costs and drive the green economy, has an extensive background in the energy and renewables sector and Business Development Director Ciaran Sharpe said he plans to offer work placements and potentially apprenticeships to Ron Dearing UTC students.
He said: “Ron Dearing UTC is very forward thinking and we’re honoured to be a Partner. The students have state-of-the-art technology at their fingertips and the school has links with so many fantastic businesses, which is the future of teaching.
“We’re looking forward to bringing further realism to renewables through the curriculum.”
Pneumatic Engineering Ltd, based in Brandesburton, East Yorkshire, has specialised in the sales, installation, maintenance and repairs of small, medium and large compressed air systems since 1992, supplying installations for the water industry and automotive and renewable energy sectors.
Managing Director Martyn Hill, who began his career as a mechanical and pneumatic apprentice, said he hopes to offer work experience to Ron Dearing UTC students as well as opening up potential apprenticeship or paid employment opportunities.
Martyn said: “I had a very good engineering education and I want to give young people similar opportunities to those I had. Ron Dearing UTC is preparing its students for what it will be like when they enter the workplace and they treat them like adults, so they know what to expect.”
Ron Dearing UTC’s Major Partners and Partners develop and deliver employer-led projects, provide work experience placements and lead the UTC’s careers information, advice and guidance programme. Major Partners also play a key role in the development of the school’s unique employer-engaged curriculum, while both Partners and Major Partners contribute financially to the school.
Glenn Jensen, Senior Assistant Principal and Head of Engineering at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “It’s fantastic to welcome so many new Major Partners and Partners to share their skills and expertise with our students.
“These industries are constantly growing and evolving and the more we can provide our students with the latest technology and knowledge, the more chance they have of securing the careers and paths they aspire to pursue in the future.”
Ron Dearing UTC has recently been named as the country’s top performing school or college for the percentage of students moving on to apprenticeships following sixth form. It is ranked number one out of more than 4,500 schools and colleges in England in the Department for Education’s latest destinations data for Year 13 leavers.
Yorkshire’s workplace wellbeing champions crowned at national awards
The Yorkshire & Humberside organisations and businesses leading the way in promoting their employees’ wellbeing have been honoured in a brand new awards series.
Three prizes were given out to Yorkshire-based companies with Best Wellbeing Initiative going to Humberside Police, Best Financial Initiative to Yorkshire Building Society and Best Physical Initiative to Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy.
The Great British Workplace Wellbeing Awards were founded last year by the Great British Entrepreneur Awards team and industry specialists Wellity Global to recognise the inspiring response of employers across the UK to the ongoing wellbeing and mental health crisis amongst the working population.
Work-life balance, stress management and personal struggles have increasingly impacted employees in recent years, and were particularly highlighted during the global COVID-19 outbreak when organisations were compelled to pay closer attention to their staff’s welfare.
The final was held for the first time at the Grosvenor Hotel in London and was hosted by radio presenter and opera singer Wynne Evans, who also interviewed former world champion boxer Frank Bruno MBE live on stage. Seventeen awards were given out to the applicants whose efforts to innovate their company’s wellbeing policy had the biggest impact on the judges.
The awards were judged by a panel of industry experts and campaigners for better standards of wellbeing and mental health support, including Simon Blake OBE, CEO of Mental Health First Aid England, and Amanda Webb from Gymshark.
The Great British Workplace Wellbeing Awards is one of several series run by the Great British Entrepreneur Awards founders, who were blown away by the huge number of applications they received in its inaugural year.
Co-founder of the awards Francesca James is eager to see the event put on annually following its success: “We were proud to see the awards generate so much enthusiasm and participation, from the opening of applications through to awards night, and found the stories of the finalists to be immensely inspiring.
“Recent times have been tough for everybody, but the commendable efforts of our finalists to push for the workplace wellbeing standards we all deserve are a real glimmer of hope that things will get better with collaboration and understanding. Congratulations to the award winners!”
Dealing with cyber security developments: our top tips
Technology changes rapidly, with new developments coming out every day. What was cutting edge yesterday might be obsolete today and this is also the case with cyber security. Cyber threats and hackers are becoming more and more sophisticated, and businesses need to adapt to different threats as quickly as possible.
Fortunately, there are many ways to ensure your business deals with cyber security developments effectively. You will need to plan carefully to ensure you stay on top of the latest trends, but the hard work will be worthwhile. Here are some of our top tips to help you stay on top of cyber security developments.
Get Notifications With The Latest News
Following the latest news is one of the best ways to protect your business. There are numerous publications that can help you stay updated on the latest trends. You could consider setting up a Google Alert that will notify you when certain keywords are used in articles.
It is best to use a range of publications to help you get the most relevant information. Journals, news websites, blogs and hard copy magazines can all be excellent sources of information. You should ensure that the sources you use are reputable and reliable. Check their writers’ credentials to ensure you get news from a trustworthy reporter.
Get Your Business ISO 27001 Certified
ISO 27001 is a framework that ensures your business complies with the very best practices for cyber security. It can provide you with the peace of mind that your business is operating at the highest level in cyber security. Getting certified in ISO 27001 can be a lengthy process, but it is well worth it.
There are companies you can use to help you get certified and make the process much simpler. High Table are experts in ISO 27001 and are an excellent choice to help you get certified. They offer a range of services, including ISO 27001 policy templates to help you get started. You can learn more from High Table to understand the benefits of partnering with a reputable company.
Train Your Team Regularly
With the rate at which cyber threats can change and adapt, you will need to ensure your team is suitably educated to deal with the challenges they may face. As an employer, it is your job to ensure your team have the required knowledge and skills to keep your business cyber secure.
There are plenty of options for training that you could offer your staff. Always do your homework and understand the training options available. Online courses can be an excellent option to educate your team without them having to take too much time out of their busy work schedule.
Create A Cyber Security Team
Creating a team devoted to cyber security can be a fantastic way to help you keep on top of the latest developments. You could make part of their role researching and stay updated on the latest news. They can then pass on what they learn to you, and you can strategize to come up with the best ways to use the information.
Final sponsorship opportunities available for Women of Achievement Awards
Just a few opportunities remain to sponsor the region’s biggest event celebrating the success of women in the local business community.
The Women of Achievement Awards, organised by Women in Business Hull, are one of the most prestigious of their kind in Hull and East Yorkshire, and celebrate the achievements of female entrepreneurs, who either run their own business or hold a leading role in their profession, industry, organisation or charity.
The much-anticipated event is back on the local business calendar for 2022 after a two-year delay caused by the Coronavirus pandemic and will now take place on Friday 11th November 2022 at the Mercure Hotel in Willerby.
With 400 people expected to attend, tickets for the awards sell out in a matter of days, so those interested in sponsoring the event are encouraged to get in touch soon to avoid disappointment.
News of its return has been welcomed by local businesses, with just three of the 10 award categories still available for sponsorship. Sponsors already confirmed for the awards include Smailes Goldie, Harrison Solway, MKM and The One Point.
Natalie Houfe, chair of Women in Business Hull, which celebrated its 25th anniversary last year, said:
“We’re thrilled to bring the awards back this year. The last two years have been difficult and disruptive for many businesses, yet we know there are lots of examples out there of women who’ve risen to the challenge, adapting what they do and the way they work to come through it stronger than ever.
“It’s a great opportunity to be part of one of the local business community’s largest events and to champion the achievements of women across the region.”
The sponsorship opportunities still available include the Voluntary Award, the Apprentice/Trainee Award and the Women in STEM Award. Sponsorship benefits include two tickets to the awards event and VIP drinks reception, the opportunity to present an award, branding on all the awards collateral and at the event and numerous PR and social media opportunities in the lead up to the awards.
Other opportunities to support the award include advertising in the event programme.
York Handmade Brick Company helps deliver North Yorkshire office development
York Handmade Brick Company has played a significant role in a prestigious North Yorkshire office development.
The Easingwold-based firm has supplied specially-manufactured bricks for a “beautiful” new office HQ for All Steels Trading on the outskirts of Thirsk.
Altogether York Handmade provided more than 8,000 Maxima bricks for the 4,000 sq ft office, called Vulcan House and designed by David Bamford Architects of Otley.
David Armitage, chairman of York Handmade, said: “This is one of my very favourite projects that we have undertaken in Yorkshire recently. All Steels Trading’s new headquarters really is a statement building, which enhances the entrance to Thirsk from York Road and the A19.
“Our long, thin Maxima bricks, which are proving increasingly popular, give the building an elegant, sophisticated feel that reflect the ethos of All Steels Trading. It has been a privilege to play a part in creating an attractive development.
“While we have recently completed some stunning commissions for residential and commercial developments in London and other UK cities, it is vitally important that we continue to provide our bricks to more local Yorkshire companies. It is a real pleasure to see our work being represented locally and tremendously gratifying to see our bricks being used so close to home.”
Scarlett Reeves, project development and quality manager at All Steels Trading, said: “We are very pleased and proud of our new offices in Thirsk. The design that David Bamford produced and the modern sleek finish that we achieved with the use of the bespoke bricks, along with the windows and doors, has made for a very beautiful building admired by all our visitors.
“Indeed, we have had local residents knocking on the door and complimenting us on the building being an attractive welcome into Thirsk when entering from the A19 and A168 and a great improvement to the area.”
David Bamford of David Bamford Architects said: “All Steels Trading wanted a modern well-designed office to make an appropriate statement using traditional materials. Brick, slate and glass were the obvious choice for this location.
“York Handmade Brick had been used in the past by ourselves and provide an interesting range of bricks and were therefore a natural choice for a traditional and local material. I am pleased with the visual appearance of the brickwork at Vulcan House.”
Vulcan House was built by Mark Stringer Ltd of Whitby.
First new occupier moves into newly refurbished Leeds offices
Hillview Real Estate, the UK regional office investor, advised jointly by Savills and WSB Property, has let office space at Sovereign House on South Parade in Leeds to Strativ Group Ltd.
The global recruitment agency has agreed to a new 10-year lease for 6,110 sq ft (567 sq m) on the second floor of the five-storey building and will pay an annual rent of £158,860.
This latest deal follows the comprehensive refurbishment of the Grade II listed building, which dates back to 1862. Works undertaken include a new high quality reception, bike storage and shower facilities, along with sustainable features such as LED lighting.
Dom Ketteringham, asset manager at Hillview Real Estate, said: “This lease agreement reflects the broad-based pick-up in occupational activity we are seeing across the portfolio and endorses our strategy of refurbishing well-located offices in regional cities to offer tenants a high-spec work environment with access to a wide range of amenities.”
Virtual reality business becomes latest to join Hull tech community
A business leading the way in virtual reality radiation training systems is relocating to the heart of Hull’s tech community as it continues to grow its team.
Vertual’s state-of-the-art training system, VERT, is used to train radiographers and physicists in universities and teaching hospitals in more than 30 countries across the world.
Now, the company has relocated from The Maltings in Hull city centre to join the ever-growing digital community at developer Wykeland Group’s @TheDock tech campus in the city’s Fruit Market.
Vertual is occupying a 2,000 sq ft office suite on the second floor of the building next to the Centre for Digital Innovation (C4DI) tech hub, overlooking the Stage @TheDock amphitheatre.
The Vertual team has more than doubled over recent years and further recruitment is planned following a phased move to the new offices, where staff will operate through a combination of fully remote, hybrid and office-based working.
Fiona Law, business manager at Vertual, said @TheDock was the place to be in Hull for tech businesses and the company’s move supports its future ambitions. She said: “The minute we walked into our new office space we knew it was perfect for us and we wanted to be part of the tech community here.
“We’d already looked at lots of locations, but this office is great and ideal for us, close to the city centre, with excellent transport links and with all the restaurants and shops in Humber Street on the doorstep too.
“We’re expanding our product range and we have lots of great projects in the pipeline. We’re increasing our head count and recruiting for new talent across the business, including more software engineers. It’s an exciting time for Vertual. We’re looking forward to settling into our new home and being part of this community.”
Vertual was launched in Hull in 2007 by three founders as a spin-off company from a joint research project involving the University of Hull and Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
Debra Leeves, Chief Executive Officer at Vertual, said: “The past few years have seen rapid growth at Vertual. We have doubled the number of employees, developed and expanded our range of VR training products and expanded internationally.
“Last year was Vertual’s most successful and profitable year since the company started. Despite COVID-19 and navigating our way through new Brexit rules and paperwork, we changed our business model, which led us to think about how we would want to use our office space in the future.
“When we started looking for new office space we knew we wanted it to be modern, light, hi-tech and among other growing and successful companies in the city. But, most of all, we wanted it to be a place where our team and future employees would want to work.”
Vertual’s new home has enabled the company to accommodate dedicated desks for office-based staff as well as hot desks used by team members who split their time between the office and remote working.
It also features an assembly and test area for newer products, such as the company’s Compact VERT system and a quiet working area where Vertual’s growing R&D team can focus on creating the next new products and hold project meetings.
Vertual’s move to @TheDock continues the growth of the tech community, which has been driven forward by Wykeland. The Hull-based developer’s investment at the waterfront site began with the opening of the C4DI tech hub six years ago and has continued in phases, including the recent opening of a second C4DI building.
@TheDock has generated hundreds of highly-skilled jobs and has been a vital element in the transformation of the Fruit Market area into a vibrant commercial, creative, cultural and residential community and magnet for investment.
John Gouldthorp, asset manager at Wykeland, said: “We’re really pleased to welcome the Vertual team to @TheDock, where they will be very much at home among so many other tech businesses that are leaders in their fields.
“Vertual is just the latest digital venture to recognise the many advantages of being part of a community where collaboration is an integral part of the culture. Those benefits extend to being located within the Fruit Market, which offers the vibrant atmosphere and social life that is so attractive to both existing employees and potential recruits.”
Multi-million pound Albert Ave Pools renovation begins
A major refurbishment project to Hull’s Albert Avenue Pools is now underway.
The £10.5million project will see the construction of a new large gym and fitness studio that will offer aerobic classes for the first time, remodelling, refurbishment and redecoration of the existing building, replacement of all mechanical and electrical systems, alongside new heating and ventilation systems.
The scheme also includes the construction of a brand-new outdoor lido, replacing the original one which closed more than 30 years ago. This new heated lido specification will create an improved experience for users, as well as meeting international standards that will be able to accommodate top-level kayak polo and competitive swimming.
Cllr Daren Hale, Leader of Hull City Council said:
“It’s fantastic to see this project get underway – the final piece in our city-wide leisure investment puzzle. The jewel in the crown being the new lido which I already know will attract visitors from across the region.
“I’m looking forward to seeing this scheme progress and getting users back in there next year.”
The project is being delivered by Hull Esteem Consortium LEP, the council’s pre-procured framework, with work undertaken by local contractors Hobson and Porter.
Gavin Barley, General Manager of Hull Esteem said:
“Getting the green-light on such a multi-faceted project to transform Albert Avenue Pools is a huge deal for all parties involved and we’re delighted to be working with Hobson and Porter once again to improve an important leisure facility for the community.
“Forming part of Hull City Council’s £18.5 million investment into leisure facilities across the city, it will not only be a massive benefit to the local area once complete, but we’re sure it will become an attraction for those visiting our city.”
Richard Hunter, Managing Director for Hobson & Porter said: “We are excited to see works begin at Albert Avenue Pools after many months of hard work to design and develop the project.
“I was lucky enough to be involved in the last major refurbishment of the facility in the mid 90’s, although it did not reflect the scale of the project we are delivering now.
“In addition to the extensive refurbishment of the existing building, we are also constructing a sizeable extension and completely rebuilding the iconic lido; additions which are testament to the authority’s continued investment in the city’s leisure assets. We can’t wait to get started on this exciting multi-phase project.” It is expected the centre will reopen to the public in summer 2023.
