Electrical wholesaler plots further growth after management buy-out
A Hull-based electrical wholesaler has undergone a seven-figure management buy-out backed by funding from Mercia Debt.
AA Jones Electric, which was founded in 2009 and is now one of the region’s leading independents, supplies electrical equipment for domestic and commercial use, as well as industrial automation and controls.
The buy-out gives control of the business to co-founder Andy Moulds, the Sales Director, and long-standing employee Sam Lomax, who becomes Managing Director. It will allow for the retirement of one of the founders, Ian Wayman. The third founder, Tony Moore, will retain a stake in the business and continue in his role as Finance Director.
The company has secured a £1m funding package, with half coming from Mercia’s SME Loans fund to support the buy-out. NPIF II – Mercia Debt Finance, which is managed by Mercia as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II), also provided £500k to support the growth of the business following the buyout.
AA Jones employs 20 staff at its premises on Venture Business Park and serves both the public and trade buyers. The company acquired an adjoining distributor, Seltec Automation, in 2022 which is now fully integrated. It currently stocks over 12,000 product lines and offers specialist advice on factory automation or for projects required to meet building or health and safety standards.
Having recently introduced new lines such as solar lighting, EV chargers and smart building technology, it now plans to further extend its range of renewables and industrial cables. The funding from NPIF II will provide additional working capital to enable it to increase stock levels and create around five new jobs in the next two years.
Sam Lomax, Managing Director, said: “Tony and Ian have built a very successful business with a dedicated and experienced team. Having joined the company 13 years ago, I am very grateful for all the support and opportunities they have given me. I am proud to be taking on the role of Managing Director and look forward to working with Andy and the team as we continue to grow the business.”
Rebecca Pickering and Mike Rogers of Mercia Debt worked on the deal.
Rebecca Pickering said: “AA Jones is well respected in the industry. It sets itself apart from the big chains by its customer service and knowledgeable staff and despite tough competition, has continued to grow revenues. We are pleased to have been able to be able to support the buy-out and provide funding for its future growth plans.”
Pierce Business Advisory and Accountancy Group of Blackburn provided corporate finance advice to the company, while WHN Solicitors of Bury provided legal advice.
Paul Bennett of Pierce said: “It was a pleasure to work with the team at AA Jones to structure a transaction that allows the management team to take the business forward and we look forward to seeing the business continue to grow over the coming years.”
Amey and partners rally over 160 volunteers to support military families
Catterick Garrison recently played host to one of Amey’s largest ever volunteer events bringing together over 160 individuals from Amey, e50K, Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), supply chain partners, local industries, military spouses, and veterans.
This collaborative effort was part of the Move You In Pack impact initiative funded by Amey and developed in partnership with e50K, a spouse-led military social enterprise.
During the event, 2,525 boxes were packed with sustainable essentials sourced from veteran/spouse led organisations, ready to be delivered to Service families as they settle into their new homes across the North and Central regions.
Each pack is thoughtfully designed to support the transition process for military families ensuring they feel welcome and supported from the moment they arrive.
In addition to packing the boxes, the day featured a Christmas toy drive where generous donations from Amey employees brought holiday cheer to families in need. Volunteers also visited Bramble Woods, a 3.5-hectare green space developed in partnership with e50K.
This unique community hub continues to grow with the recent addition of a polytunnel enabling volunteers to plant, maintain and cultivate crops further supporting biodiversity and sustainability. Since Amey provided seed funding to begin the project, e50K have secured almost £75,000 of grants and additional funding to support the development of this important local asset.
Aligning with Amey’s Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) strategy, the Move You In Pack initiative and the Bramble Woods project demonstrates a shared commitment to enhancing well-being, sustainability and inclusivity within the defence community. Since the initiative’s inception in 2021, over 6,000 Service families have benefited annually from the packs, with a total of more than 18,000 boxes delivered to date.
Additional impacts include:
- 121 military spouses have gained economically via 9,600 paid employment hours – earning more than £97,000 in wages.
- Profits exceeding £103,000 has been reinvested into Bramble Woods transforming the site into a vibrant community space featuring allotments, wildflower meadows and bee hives with plans for building an outdoor classroom.
- Over 90% of pack materials are recyclable or sustainably sourced
Lupton Fawcett begins 2025 with duo of hires
Lupton Fawcett has recruited two new colleagues as part of its plans for growth in 2025.
Harjit Singh, senior associate in the firm’s commercial property team, and associate Jonathan Exall, who specialises in dispute resolution, both started the new year at the Yorkshire law firm.
Harjit qualified as a solicitor in 2016, and his role includes all aspects of commercial property alongside experience of complex transactions such as collective enfranchisement, right to manage, escheat, and bona vacantia.
He said: “I am excited to work with such a talented team and to contribute to the firm’s success. I am looking forward to helping clients achieve their long-term goals through innovative and effective solutions.”
Jonathan had roles with regional and national firms before joining Lupton Fawcett and deals with complex and high value commercial litigation including shareholder disputes and breach of commercial contracts alongside regulatory disputes relating to export controls, trade and logistics.
He said: “The firm has high profile clients in the region, and nationally, and I am eager to assist them. I am also excited to be joining a renowned dispute resolution team and continuing to maintain the highest standard of client care.”
The two new additions to the team are the first in a group of new hires in January which form part of the firm’s strategic plans.
James Richardson, managing partner, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Harjit and Jonathan to the team, strengthening our offering in commercial property and dispute resolution.
“Alongside further recruitment news, which we will be sharing in the coming weeks, these appointments bolster our position as we enter a new year, and we look forward to delivering the best results for our clients.”
Interior fit-out of Leeds Trinity University’s new City Campus completes
GRAHAM Interior Fit-Out has completed the refurbishment of Leeds Trinity University’s new City Campus at 1 Trevelyan Square, Leeds, enhancing its facilities to accommodate a growing student population and creating state-of-the-art learning environments that foster career-focused education and collaboration with key industry partners.
Located in the heart of Leeds, the City Campus complements Leeds Trinity University’s main campus in Horsforth.
The refurbishment has transformed 1 Trevelyan Square into a dynamic new educational hub, fitted out with modern spaces designed to inspire collaboration and learning. Key facilities include:
- Collaborative Active Teaching Spaces (CATS): Encouraging teamwork, curiosity, and purpose-driven learning.
- Specialist facilities: Including a boardroom, trading room, law court, custody suite, business engagement centre, and bespoke labs tailored for construction, built environment, and computer science courses.
- Flexible study and learning areas: Providing a supportive, technology-enabled environment to prepare students for their future careers.
2025 Business Predictions: Konrad Czajka, Managing Director, Czajka Care Group
It’s that time of year, when Business Link Magazine invites the region’s business leaders to offer up their predictions for the year ahead.
It has become something of a tradition, given that we’ve been doing this now for over 30 years.
Here we speak to Czajka Care Group’s Managing Director, Konrad Czajka, who is also Chair of the Bradford Care Association.
The Chancellor’s budget caused alarm and distress for the Social Care Sector with the announcements regarding the National Living Wage (6.7% increase), Employer NIC from April 2025 (increase from 13.8% to 15%), and the threshold decrease from £9,100 to £5,000.
The reaction from the Social Care Sector was swift and loud— it would threaten the future viability of the 11,544 Homecare Services and 14,970 Residential and Nursing Home Providers registered with Care Quality Commission (CQC).
In 2024 the report from Lord Darzi stated that Social Care is in a dire state. There have been cuts to Local Authority budgets, £8 billion since 2010, with fewer and fewer people funded while demand has risen, and older people are stuck on acute wards.
Social Care is a vital service and in 2025 the Government needs commitment to real change. There is a commitment to reform the NHS, and billions is being spent whilst only £600 million in grant funding is being allocated for Social Care in 2025-26.
It is vital that both sectors are reformed at the same time. Reforming the NHS without reforming Social Care is like rebuilding a house without mending the roof!
In 2025 investment in the Social Care workforce will be a priority. Social Care employs 1.5million people, that’s more than the NHS, and vacancies are running at 8.9% which equates to 110,000 vacancies. Domestic recruitment will remain a challenge as workers are attracted to higher paid and less demanding jobs. Social Care will need thousands more care workers with the right skills and values over the next 15 years (430,000 extra posts by 2035).
A workforce strategy in 2025 would be welcomed, but the staffing crisis in Social Care will not end until pay rates rises are aligned with the NHS. International recruitment will continue to be the main driver of the increase in filled posts and a possible fall in vacancies.
In 2025 the Care Quality Commission (CQC) will face increased scrutiny over its inspection and ratings processes. Past issues raised have included inconsistent inspection outcomes, delayed reports, and questions about the assessments. People depend on CQC ratings to make informed decisions about care options. Hopefully, for 2025, due to the appointment of Sir Julian Hartley as Chief Executive, CQC will work with the Care Provider Alliance (CPA) to improve the inspection levels, clinical expertise among Inspectors, consistency in assessments and deal with the problems of CQC’S IT system.
Finally, failing to fix Social Care will mean failing to fix the NHS. Hopefully the Government will reassess the £600 million grant funding, develop a long-term financial strategy to account for inflation and will increase engagement with Social Care Providers and all stakeholders including the Local Authorities. In 2025 Social Care will continue to be a vital service but it needs the support it deserves.
Leeds-based green banking platform set to wind down
Leeds-based green banking platform, Tred, is winding down, with the business pointing to recent changes to financial regulations around Authorised Push Payment Fraud as the reason, significantly impacting smaller disruptors, which the firm is not equipped to sustain.
Tred was founded to tackle a lack of actors in the financial sector using their power for good.
In a statement on LinkedIn, the business shared: “This isn’t the post we ever wanted to write, but today we’re sharing the sad news that Tred will be winding down. After four amazing years, countless lessons, and an incredible journey, it’s time to close this chapter.
“When we started Tred, we had a simple mission: To make money work for the planet, not against it. From launching fossil-fuel-free accounts to raising awareness of the hidden carbon impact of finance, we’ve been part of some amazing conversations and moments of change.
“Recent changes to financial regulations around Authorised Push Payment Fraud (APPF) have significantly impacted smaller disruptors like Tred, which we simply aren’t equipped to sustain.
“But luckily, we wouldn’t change the journey for the world! We’ve been part of something amazing and built something groundbreaking with an incredible team of passionate, talented people. We couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve achieved together and the community we’ve built.
“To everyone who supported us along the way, our team, our customers, and everyone who believed in Tred’s mission, thank you.
“This is the end of Tred, but it’s far from the end of the fight for sustainable finance. The mission continues, and I know that the seeds we’ve planted will grow into something even greater.
“Let’s keep pushing for a greener, fairer future.”
Focusing on business accounts and making money greener, the business offered current accounts that drive “growth and impact” with every payment on Tred debit cards leading to the donation of a portion of funds to reforestation projects.
Tred also avowed that clients’ money would never be invested into industries that fund climate change, cutting business’s carbon emissions.
Keepmoat plans £580k investment in ecology for West Yorkshire
Housebuilder Keepmoat is to invest more than £580,000 to support the council in a West Yorkshire town with the delivery of priority benefits for the local area, including a range of ecology incentives.
Keepmoat’s investment will aid Wakefield Council’s Countryside and Green Spaces (Street Scene) team, which is responsible for maintaining and improving the countryside in and around the city to help wildlife native to the area thrive.
The investment, which will be split across the housebuilder’s The Vale development in Upton and its Station View development in South Elmsall, will specifically focus on implementing Biodiversity Net Gain schemes in Pontefract, in line with council targets.
The Council’s team has been developing BNG incentives to support habitat management at the two developments, as well as producing monitoring plans for the local nature reserves in the district, the closest of which is the Former Upton Colliery – which the money invested by Keepmoat is helping to fund.
Following this, the housebuilder’s investment will be spent on the rollout of the habitat management strategies and monitoring works on the ground. Both developments are flagship schemes for the housebuilder, following the implementation of BNG regulation in the UK this year.
The new legislation requires developers to provide a BNG of at least 10 percent for new developments in England, with the aim to ensure that developments have a positive impact on the natural environment.
Regional Managing Director, Chris Clingo at Keepmoat, Yorkshire West, commented: “Keepmoat is delighted to be regenerating South Elmsall and Upton and transforming an area that was subject to anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping, into a vibrant community. The new developments will bring much needed, high-quality new homes and significant investment to the local area.
“Our BNG incentives are a testament to Keepmoat’s commitment to regenerating West Yorkshire towns and maintaining wildlife habitats and ecological priorities. We are proud to be working alongside local councils to make improvements to the local area for future generations.”
Avant submits plans for 108-home development at Great Houghton
Avant Homes has submitted plans and exchanged contracts on a 7.6-acre site in Great Houghton, Barnsley to deliver a £23.5m, 108-home development.
If given the go ahead by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, work at the development could start this spring, with the first residents expected to move into their new homes by the end of the year.
Subject to planning being granted, the development will be delivered by Avant Homes West Yorkshire. The operating company’s MD Richard Hosie, said: “We are pleased to have submitted our plans to deliver a multi-tenure residential development in Great Houghton.
“We now look forward to Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council considering our plans for the development.”
Hull and Humber Chamber kicks off Business Week with a preview event this week
Hull and Humber Chamber is preparing for Humber Business week with a “Get Ready for Humber Business Week 2025” event at the MKM Stadium in Hull this Thursday.
It will bring the launch of a new website and lead the audience through the Biz Week event process and highlight the support available to help participants make the most of their involvement in the week.
The preview will also encourage more people to hold their own events by sharing advice and insight on how to get the best from Biz Week, and by offering guidance on how to make sure the activities are inclusive and accessible.
Students from Hull College will work with the Biz Week event team to gain experience of stewarding and catering, check-in and guest management, and media and PR tasks.
Pat Coyle, chair of Humber Business Week, said: “I was delighted with the level of involvement by businesses and other organisations at Biz Week 2024 but we didn’t want to wait 12 months until the next one so we decided to do something new to bridge the gap and to help people get ready for June 2025.
“By turning the annual stakeholder meeting into a preview and preparation event we’ve already had many more people sign up to attend than we usually attract for our stakeholder get-together, and we’re expecting more to register in the coming days.
“We’ve made a significant investment to make it easier for organisations to get involved in Humber Business Week, to help them raise awareness of what they do and to promote collaboration – all under the Biz Week banner of bridging business, showcasing excellence.”
Delegates at the half-day preview event will hear from Matt Scarr, head of sales and marketing at Reality Solutions, about the buzz his company enjoyed as first-time participants in Biz Week 2024.
Matt will be followed by Helen Thompson from Helen’s Wheels Disability Access Solutions, and Paul McCartan, who works for Yara International and is chair of the Equality, Diversion, Inclusion and Belonging network operated by CATCH from its national technical skills centre in Stallingborough.
A breakout session presented by Future Humber will explore how the new place brand values are reshaping perceptions, building pride, and positioning Humber as a leader on the global stage.
Hull Truck Theatre will harness its team’s writing and acting expertise to deliver a presentation skills masterclass.
Pat said: “With this event we’re raising the bar with bold changes, a refreshed Humber narrative, and a renewed focus on collaboration, inclusion, and excellence. This is an opportunity for every business to contribute, connect, and help shape a remarkable Humber Business Week 2025. Whether you’re a seasoned participant or a first-time organiser, this session will equip you with the tools, insights, and inspiration needed to make 2025 our best year yet.”
Humber Business Week will take place across the Humber region starting on Monday 2 June, and the programme will again feature the Future Humber Bondholder Breakfast, the Humber Business Week Lunch, Chamber Expo, the HullBID Inspiring People Dinner, Hull City Council’s Business Breakfast, the University of Hull Celebration Dinner and The Business Day at Bridlington Spa. The full programme will be announced at the official Humber Business Week programme launch at Hull Truck Theatre from 5pm until 6.30pm on Thursday 10 April.
The Get Ready for Humber Business Week 2025 event will take place on Thursday 23 January in the Circle Restaurant at the MKM Stadium in Hull from 8.15am until 12.30pm.
Chamber gears up to celebrate International Womens Day
Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with sponsor AESSEAL, plans to celebrate International Women’s Day 2025 with an event on Friday, 7th March at the AESSEAL New York Stadium in Rotherham.
Themed #AccelerateAction, this year’s campaign aims to advocate for change and showcase the voices of women in business throughout the Barnsley and Rotherham region. The event will feature speakers, a Q&A panel, and interactive discussions exploring the experiences and stories of women who have made significant strides in their fields.
Featured Speakers:
- Lindsy James – Founder and Director, Active Fusion Lindsy is a dedicated advocate for children’s health and wellbeing, inspiring countless young people through her charity, which has recently received the King’s Award for Voluntary Service. As a record-holding athlete, she embodies resilience and passion, proving that ordinary individuals can achieve extraordinary outcomes.
- Alicia Hewitt – Managing Director, Secure Power Alicia’s journey from apprentice to Managing Director showcases her commitment to growth and innovation. Her focus on teamwork and opportunity creation reflects her belief that success is a collective effort. Recently recognised as the Businessperson of the Year at the 2024 Barnsley and Rotherham Business Awards, Alicia continues to be an inspiring figure in the community.
- Ava Jones – Head of Marketing and Executive Assistant, AESSEAL Ava’s extensive career path at AESSEAL, beginning as an apprentice, highlights her dedication to sustainability and continuous improvement across various operations.
- Karen Thomas – Finance Director, ASD Holdings Ltd & Rotherham United FC With over 25 years of experience, Karen exemplifies leadership in both finance and sports, inspiring women to excel in traditionally male-dominated sectors.
