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.
Huge investment boost for Hull city centre with launch of new £7.5m Levelling Up Fund Grant Scheme
A new grant scheme has been launched to support various businesses and inject millions of pounds of investment into Hull city centre.
£7.5m has been allocated from the £19.5m awarded to Hull City Council from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund to finance a grant scheme that will support new and existing businesses in the city centre.
The Levelling Up Fund Grant Scheme will issue grants of up to £750,000, that can be awarded with a minimum of 50 per cent match funding from the applicant.
Councillor Daren Hale, leader of Hull City Council and portfolio holder for regeneration and investment, said: “We’ve seen the success of grant schemes in revitalising our city centre – most notably in the Old Town, on the marina and at Trinity Market.
“This new grant scheme is the biggest we have ever created and its reach will be far greater than previous schemes, with the ability to reenergise a much wider area of our city centre.
“These type of schemes, alongside the various other examples of public and private investment, have the ability to transform the heart of our city for generations to come.”
The Levelling Up Fund Grant Scheme will bring unused floorspace of any vacant or partially occupied property back into use. Similar to previous grant schemes in the Old Town, the Levelling Up Grant Scheme will allow various diverse businesses to open and operate, breathing new life into the area.
The grant scheme will cover Whitefriargate, Albion Square and the surrounding connecting areas.
Previous grant schemes have supported various businesses in the city centre to either open or develop.
In November last year, The 55 Group, a collective of leading cross-industry businesses, completed its relocation to the former HSBC building on Whitefriargate in Hull city centre following a £1.6m redevelopment project.
The project was supported by a £711,000 grant from the Humber High Street Challenge Fund.
Gerard Toplass, group chief executive of The 55 Group, said: “While our businesses operate nationally, we are extremely proud of our Hull-based roots and are passionate about promoting Hull as a city of excellence.
“It’s excellent news for Hull that this Levelling Up Fund Grant Scheme is being launched to support further investment and rejuvenation to create even better opportunities for those living here. It’s a city that understands the value that comes from investment, which we have fully supported through the refurbishment of our headquarters, and we look forward to seeing what the fund will enable Hull to achieve.”
The Hull and East Yorkshire LEP’s Humber High Street Challenge Fund, alongside Historic England’s High Street Heritage Action Zone, has already delivered grants to various projects and businesses in the Whitefriargate area.
Interested parties are asked to submit an expression of interest form and successful applicants will be invited to complete a full application form.
Council proposes to develop Local Area Energy Plan for the city
A proposal to develop the York Local Area Energy Plan will be brought to Executive Member for Environment and Climate Change Decision Session next week (9 March).
The proposal recommends that £110,000 be allocated to commission the work, to enable robust decision making for the future of York’s energy infrastructure, supporting the cities transition to net zero carbon.
Developing this plan for York, will provide an optimised, cost-effective and evidence-based energy pathway that brings the ambition of a net zero carbon York by 2030 closer, by providing a technically viable plan for decarbonising our city-wide energy system.
A Local Area Energy Plan would consider factors such as current carbon emissions from buildings and transport, as well as future energy changes from large developments alongside switches to renewable energy. In addition, the plan would measure and consider the social impact of energy changes such as the cost of switching to renewable sources and any potential disruption from infrastructure changes along with actions such as retrofitting homes.
The proposed city wide energy plan will provide a pipeline for investment in local and regional energy infrastructure that delivers zero carbon at lowest possible cost, supporting increased uptake of renewable generation and improving network resilience.
Cllr Paula Widdowson, Executive Member for Environment and Climate Change, said: “York has an ambitious target to be carbon net-zero by 2030. We know that in surveys taken through Our Big Conversation last year that over 80% of respondents agree with this goal.
“However, delivering a reduction in carbon emissions must take into account the impact this will have on residents and businesses. I want to ensure that the steps we take deliver value for money and an overall positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of people in York.
“Local Area Energy Planning is a critical enabler to decarbonisation, highlighting new opportunities for future plans across the city.
“I look forward to considering the proposal at my next decision session to consider how we can continue to build a greener, cleaner city here in York.”
Leader considers York’s Great British Railways bid
The Leader of City of York Council will consider the submission of York’s bid to become the home of the newly created Great British Railways at a decision session next week.
In February this year the Department for Transport announced a competition to find the first headquarters of Great British Railways.
Since that announcement, the council and its partners have worked together to mount a bid, positioning York as the ideal home for Great British Railways.
The competition seeks bids from towns and cities with a rich railway history and which are strongly linked to the rail network, aiming for the new headquarters to take pride of place at the heart of a new era for Britain’s railways. Following extensive work with partners and rail operators in the city, York’s historic and strong connection to the rail sector will form the heart of the city’s bid to government.
At a meeting on 9 March Councillor Keith Aspden, the Leader of the Council, will be asked to approve the submission of York’s formal expression of interest. In turn, that will signal the city’s intent to bid jointly with North Yorkshire County Council and York and North Yorkshire Local Economic Partnership, to locate the new headquarters of Great British Railways here in York.
Councillor Keith Aspden, Leader of City of York Council said: “York is the natural home for Great British Railways, standing at the heart of the UK’s rail network and with a rail history stretching back centuries.
“We believe that the public and the government will see that our rich rail heritage, skilled population and future development opportunities, such as York Central, make York the ideal home for Great British Railways.
“Even before the competition was announced, we have been working with our partners to put York in the best possible position to succeed, and over the coming weeks and months, we will undertake further work to give York’s bid real momentum.”
The Leader will be asked to delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Place to finalise and submit final bid after final consultation with the Leader. The bid needs to be submitted by the deadline, 16 March.
Ultimate Battery company chooses South Yorkshire to develop technologies for greener vehicles
A revolutionary company set to develop a new generation of greener vehicle batteries has chosen Sheffield as the location for a new Research & Development and manufacturing facility.
The Ultimate Battery Company (UBC), based in Hyde, Manchester, selected South Yorkshire for the location of its new facility, after receiving support through South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and recognising South Yorkshire’s potential as the green heart of the UK.
South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority has pledged to provide a total of £5.2m in financial support (£3.2m loan and £2m grant) to the Ultimate Battery Company to enable them to develop technologies to reduce Carbon Dioxide emissions with transformative new technologies and energy storage solutions. The new R&D and manufacturing facility is expected to create 495 new jobs over the next few years.
Maurizio Cunningham-Brown, CEO of the Ultimate Battery Company, explains: “To develop these new technologies and products we needed to find a location with a green energy infrastructure and the support framework and supply network in place to help us achieve our ambitions. The team at SYMCA helped to guide us through the funding process and put us in touch with the University of Sheffield’s AMRC, which is now our partner in research and development of our new battery technologies.”
Maurizio adds: “We are really excited about locating our new facility in Sheffield and being able to create jobs here, now and in the future. Access to a talented workforce and the support available in this area for skills training and development were obvious draws to South Yorkshire.”
The Ultimate Battery Company is developing technologies which remove most of the obstacles to widespread electric vehicle uptake, including increasing battery run times, extending travel range and reducing costs for the customer.
The company’s aim is to design a new battery that provides a Lithium-like performance at 35% of the cost, enabling twice the energy to be stored in the same physical space and providing a faster charging rate. The batteries that the Ultimate Battery Company has developed also significantly reduce weight by up to 15Kg per vehicle, further driving down both CO2 emissions and manufacturing costs, while increasing energy densities.
Gareth Morgan, SYMCA Senior Business Development Manager for Trade & Investment, said: “The Ultimate Battery Company offers exciting opportunities for our region in terms of recruitment, education and development of new greener technologies. The company has been able to establish valuable connections with the AMRC, which offers excellent resources and expertise to help UBC to put their plans in motion. We are very pleased to welcome UBC to South Yorkshire, and we look forward to supporting the business further as it embarks on its ambitious growth plans.”
Steve Foxley, CEO of the University of Sheffield AMRC, said: “It has been a great pleasure to work with the Ultimate Battery Company around its manufacturing innovations for energy storage technology and we are delighted to see they are now building on that collaboration with inward investment into South Yorkshire, close to the research expertise of the AMRC. We look forward to working with them on future projects, accelerating the journey to net zero and opening up new opportunities around cheaper, greener future energy systems.”
Continuing to work alongside the AMRC, the Ultimate Battery Company is also setting its sights on making the switch to electric vehicles easier for manufacturers.
Malcolm Earp, Chief Commercial Officer & Chief Operating Officer at the Ultimate Battery Company, said: “The main reason for the slow uptake of electric vehicles is the increased cost compared with a traditional combustion engine motor vehicle. Our new battery changes the dynamics – not only will the electric vehicles achieve purchase price parity with traditional cars, but total cost of ownership will be significantly less in terms of both lower operating and maintenance costs.”
“The demand for these products is out there and has already been confirmed by a wide range of leading automotive manufacturers and other related industries. As such, we are confident that with the resources we will have in place at our new facility and the technology we are looking to bring online, we can accelerate the switch to electric vehicles long before the 2040 target.”
“In the meantime, we’re looking forward to being located in South Yorkshire to make these exciting plans a reality and working with SYMCA, AMRC and the DIT (Department of International Trade) to get our new facility up and running and push the start button on what will be the new car batteries of the future.”
EMR team up with school pupils and local artist for Lincoln-inspired artwork
East Midlands Railway (EMR) has supported a project to produce artwork that promotes the history and heritage of Lincoln.
The six pieces of artwork, which are now on display next to platform five at the city’s station, were designed in collaboration with local artist Mel Langton and pupils from Hospital School, the National Citizen Service and Lincoln City Foundation.
The striking artwork includes designs featuring Lincoln Castle, the cathedral, Newport Arch and Lincoln City Football Club, while one piece of art depicts the railway network, and another reflects the history of Lincoln being the birthplace of the tank.
They were devised over several months in a bid to brighten up a section of the station and give customers an insight into the culture and history of Lincoln.
The artwork was sponsored by EMR, Community Rail Network and North Notts & Lincs Community Partnership, as well as Lincoln City Foundation and The Rotary Club of Lincoln Colonia.
Tamsin, who is in year 11 at Lincoln Christ Hospital School, said: “Taking part in this community project was a wonderful experience, seeing it all come together was a dream.”
While her classmate Caitlin said: “I’ve enjoyed every moment of this amazing project. I am grateful that I was given the chance to work alongside a real artist, to create something that all of us, as a community, can enjoy for years to come.”
Elaine Porter, Art Teacher at Lincoln Christ Hospital School, said: “Working with EMR and Mel has had a significant impact on the Year 11 Creative Arts Enrichment Group. It provided them with the opportunity to develop their skills in digital art, taking their artwork out of the classroom and into the community.”
Artist Mel Langton said she was delighted to have been chosen to create the artwork and work alongside the pupils. She said: “It is great to be able to help bring some fun and colourful imagery to Lincoln Railway station.
“We wanted to produce some vibrant designs that would brighten the station and welcome visitors into Lincoln, whilst sharing a little of our counties history and great places to visit.
“Along with designing my own pieces for the project, it was a pleasure working with the schools involved and the LCFC National Citizen Service to create the further three vibrant and diverse designs that are now on display.
“I really hope that the artwork will be enjoyed for many years to come.“
Donna Adams, Community Engagement Manager at East Midlands Railway, said: “Everyone involved in this project should feel very proud and we would like to thank all the volunteers for their help and time.
“The artwork is a lovely addition to the station, it not only brightens up the area, but also manages to highlight the rich history, heritage and wonderful landmarks that the city has to offer.”
The Rotary Club of Lincoln Colonia adopted Lincoln station five years ago and has been busy transforming the disused platform, clearing weeds and picking up litter.
Peter Harrold, from the The Rotary Club of Lincoln Colonia, said: “We spoke with the station manger and formed an adoption group to see what could be done. The platform has been transformed and the artwork is the icing on the cake.
“Titled ‘Romans to Railways, the artworks feature Lincoln’s Roman and Industrial past, including references to the first tank which was built here in Lincoln and the importance of railways to the city. Lincoln’s famous football club, the Imps, is not forgotten either.”
Lincoln Spring Clean supports High Street’s new lease of life
Work has begun on a big ‘Lincoln Spring Clean’ for the city, as visitors begin to make their way back to the High Street now restrictions have ended.
City of Lincoln Council along with partners Visit Lincoln and Lincoln BIG were awarded over £170,000 in government funding to support the safe return to the city’s high street following the Covid-19 pandemic, some of which will be used to give an extra boost to smartening up the High Street.
Some £175,632 was awarded as part of the government’s Welcome Back Fund, which is providing councils across England a share of £56 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), with a large proportion of this funding going to events and activities in the city, such as the Lincoln Festival of Fun in February.
A proportion of this money will be used in a range of areas across the city through environmental improvements.
Throughout March, as part of the Lincoln Spring Clean, the following will take place:
- Delivery of a range of environmental improvements to enhance the look and feel of the city centre, including:
- Clean up and restoration of street furniture – mainly benches in the city centre (clean and paint or treat)
- Increased pressure washing of known toileting and pigeon mess ‘black spots’
- Replanting of some flower beds
- Brickwork repairs to planters
- Anti-littering posters/triads for littered areas
- Purchase of some new tree guards for city centre tree plantings
Doncaster digital health solutions provider acquires German firm
Tunstall Healthcare, the Doncaster-headquartered provider of software solutions, services and technology for the telecare and telehealth markets, has expanded its German presence and service offering with the acquisition of BeWo Unternehmensgruppe (BeWo) for an undisclosed fee.
Following the rapid acceleration in the adoption of smart technology and digital health solutions worldwide, the acquisition sees Tunstall together with BeWo deliver its first home emergency call centre in Germany to support vulnerable people at home. The centre will combine the technical possibilities of telehealth and the smart home via a uniform central platform.
Peter Nicklin, chairman of the Board of Tunstall Integrated Healthcare, said: “We are pleased to have found a strong partner in the BeWo Group. We’re looking forward to working with Matthias Sandrock and the team to combine our strengths and support the further digitisation of health and care services across Germany.
“Our innovative approach will offer professionals and service users an opportunity to explore new ways of delivering and receiving enhanced health and social care services at home, therefore increasing health and wellbeing, and the efficacy of the care services available.”
Matthias Sandrock, CEO of the BeWo Group of Companies, said: “We are delighted to now be part of the Tunstall Group. Tunstall is an innovative partner with whom we have been working successfully for many years. We have long been convinced of the quality of their products and can now offer our customers and cooperation partners an even wider range of solutions from the areas of telehealth and smart home solutions.”
BeWo is a provider of call centre services, social alarm and device technology and management in Germany, alongside innovative concepts for the group living sector and different options for mobile protection via mobile alarm solutions. The acquisition supports Tunstall’s strategic, global expansion in digital solutions and services.
Tunstall integrates smart technology with monitoring and support services to give individuals increased independence, improved quality of life and wider choice in their care options. Tunstall designs, manufactures and sells monitoring units, sensors and software in six key regions; UK and Ireland, the Nordics, Spain, France and Benelux, DACHME and Australasia that enable the elderly, frail or the chronically ill to continue to live independently and to reduce social care and hospital visits or medical attention.
Kristoffer Axelsson, Chief Commercial Officer at Tunstall Healthcare, added: “Innovating the care available to vulnerable people across the globe is a crucial aspect of what we do at Tunstall. We’re always looking to partner with companies which have a similar ethos to us and BeWo certainly stood out for this reason. Having the opportunity to deliver a first-of-its-kind service to the people of Germany is extremely exciting and we’re really looking forward to seeing the positive impact that this will have on service users across the country.”
