Avant Homes submits plans for £66m housing development near Barnsley

Stuart Pearcey
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Avant Homes submits plans for £66m housing development near Barnsley

Housebuilder Avant Homes has asked Barnsley council planners for permission to build a £66.5m scheme of 300 homes in Thurnscoe.

Located on land off Thurnscoe Bridge Lane, the proposed development will comprise a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom homes.

If given the go ahead by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, work could start in May 2025, with the first residents expected to move into their new homes in January next year.

Subject to planning being granted, the development will be delivered by Avant Homes West Yorkshire. MD Richard Hosie, said: “As a housebuilder, we are committed to build quality new homes for everyone in places where people want to live.

“Our proposed development in Thurnscoe represents an opportunity to deliver on this and provide practically designed, energy efficient homes ideal for a range of buyers.

“We look forward to Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council considering our plans to build a new and thriving community in Thurnscoe.”

West Lindsey Chief Exec to retire this summer

Stuart Pearcey
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West Lindsey Chief Exec to retire this summer
West Lindsey District Council Chief Exec Ian Knowles is to retire at the end of June 2025, marking the conclusion of a distinguished career in local government spanning more than 30 years. Ian Knowles was appointed as Chief Executive in 2019, after being Executive Director of Resources. Under his leadership, West Lindsey District Council has achieved considerable progress in transforming services, regenerating communities, and addressing some of the district’s most pressing challenges. Among his key achievements is the council’s progress on the former RAF Scampton site. Despite significant obstacles, Ian and the leadership team are advancing plans to purchase the site from the Home Office, enabling the delivery of an ambitious £300 million investment programme. This development will revitalise RAF Scampton as a hub of heritage, innovation, and economic opportunity for West Lindsey. Ian has also overseen the build of a brand-new central depot, a new crematorium, and a new leisure centre in the district – all delivered on time and in budget. In addition, there has been significant levelling-up initiatives, including the construction of a four-screen Savoy cinema in Gainsborough, alongside additional projects aimed at boosting the local economy, improving infrastructure, and enhancing the quality of life for residents. In addition to these landmark developments, Ian spearheaded the implementation of critical internal improvements at the council. This included introducing a brand-new finance system to streamline operations and enhance efficiency, as well as a new customer records management system to improve service delivery and strengthen engagement with residents. Ian said: “It has been an honour to lead this outstanding council and work with dedicated colleagues and partners to achieve meaningful change. West Lindsey is a place where people, businesses, and communities can really thrive and reach their full potential. “We have worked to deliver on our shared vision of ‘Moving Forward Together’ to improve services and prosperity for Our People, Our Place, and Our Council. I am proud of what we have accomplished and confident in the district’s bright future and the amazing team we have here at West Lindsey.”

York launches scheme to create more employment opportunities in the city

Stuart Pearcey
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York launches scheme to create more employment opportunities in the city
Members of York’s business community are being encouraged to take part in a new movement to increase opportunities for York residents to get into the world of work. In partnership with City of York Council, 4front Partners will deliver the Ambitious About Employment project, which will help businesses tap into the pool of hidden talent represented by those from diverse communities who may struggle, under existing recruitment practices, to access work. This group includes those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), neurodivergent individuals, young people and more. Businesses will receive expert advice and training on making their recruitment practices as inclusive as possible, as well as support to find and onboard new talent into their organisations. Cllr Pete Kilbane, the council’s Executive Member for Economy and Culture, said: “Embedding diversity and inclusion into HR practices is not just desirable, but essential for businesses to succeed in a competitive marketplace. “We see again and again the positive impacts that diversity has on all aspects of our community, including in the workplace. “We know that so many businesses in our city are already committed to providing opportunities for a wide range of people to take part in rewarding employment, and we hope that this project will support them and encourage more businesses to make their recruitment practices accessible for all.” Adopting inclusive recruitment practices means designing a system that is accessible, inclusive and supportive for everyone. Attracting a more diverse workforce can support business innovation, enhance an organisation’s reputation, improve employee retention and much more. Businesses who are interested in accessing this support can sign up to one of three online masterclasses, where internationally-renowned Human Resource Management expert Professor Jo Ingold will guide attendees through the fundamentals of inclusive recruitment and cover the practical approaches businesses can adopt to make their recruitment practices more accessible.  

Small firms urged to enter competition highlighting international trade

Stuart Pearcey
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Small firms urged to enter competition highlighting international trade
SMEs are being encouraged to enter the ‘Made in the UK, Sold to the World Awards’ scene created by the Department for Business and Trade. The awards, entry for which is open until March 9th, celebrate the international sales success of SMEs across the UK and provide a stepping stone for further growth and opportunity. This year, two new categories have been added: Digital & Technology, and ‘Export Services’ – the latter aiming to recognise the contribution of logistics and distribution businesses that facilitate UK exports. Other categories cover Advanced Manufacturing & Construction; Agriculture, Food & Drink; Consultancy & Professional Services; Creative Industries; Education & EdTech; Financial Services & FinTech; Healthcare; Infrastructure and Engineering; Low Carbon Energy; Retail and Consumer Goods. Lloyds Bank has joined as a partner for the 2025 awards, in addition to the founding partner, the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade. The winners’ package has been updated to include a year’s free business membership to the Chartered Institute; an export masterclass with a Lloyds Bank trade expert; professional photos of their business; and an invitation to the winners’ reception in London. They will also receive a trophy, certificate and digital badge, and bespoke promotion on the DBT’s channels. Those that are highly commended will also receive a year’s free membership to the Institute. Gareth Thomas, Minister for Services, Small Businesses and Exports, said: “When small businesses export, it opens a wealth of incredible opportunities. These awards are a testament to the innovation that British SMEs display day in, day out. “As we enter the new year, our Plan for Change is about ensuring businesses across the country can thrive and grow. This will boost jobs and wages and firms that export are at the forefront of that growth. I encourage all those who have started on the exporting ladder to enter and showcase their success.” Two of last year’s winners have since seen growth in revenue and expansion into new markets. Intralink, an international business consultancy and winner of the Consultancy and Professional Services category, has enjoyed 10% growth in revenue and expanded into Finland, Norway, China and South Korea. SimVenture, the winner of the Education & EdTech category, has seen 30% year-on-year growth and grown into the Middle East.

‘Reeves’ first budget weighs heavily on business,’ says Chamber Chief Exec

Stuart Pearcey
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‘Reeves’ first budget weighs heavily on business,’ says Chamber Chief Exec
Hopes were high of a further cut in interest rates in December were dashed when the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee voting to hold interest rates at 4.75%. And with the realities of the Chancellor’s first tax raising Budget starting to hit home, there is much unrest in the business community about higher overheads which will show themselves more clearly in the results for the first quarter of 2025, says the Hull and Humber Chamber. Chamber Chief Exec Ian Kelly said: “The quarter three figures showed a slightly improved picture with many indicators showing something of a bounce back, but our Quarter 4 results have seen the majority of those gains go into reverse. “It is clear that increased costs caused by higher overheads and a substantial increase in the cost of employing staff thanks to Rachel Reeves’ first Budget are weighing heavily on the minds of business leaders across the Humber region. “Most firms say they are now planning to increase their prices in the coming months, while at the same time cutting investment in training and equipment. “Cashflow and profit expectations are also down as firms look for ways to reduce the impact of higher overheads in the midst of a tightening economy, not helped of course, by the Bank of England’s decision in December to delay a further cut in interest rates which had been hinted at by Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey when he met senior Chamber Business Leaders at a private lunch in Grimsby in October.” Nationally, The British Chambers of Commerce said: “The worrying reverberations of the Budget are clear to see in our survey data. Businesses confidence has slumped in a pressure cooker of rising costs and taxes. “Firms of all shapes and sizes are telling us the national insurance hike is particularly damaging. Businesses are already cutting back on investment and say they will have to put up prices in the coming months. “The Government is rightly coming up with long-term strategies on industry, infrastructure and trade. But those plans won’t help businesses struggling now. “To help business we need to see quick action in three specific areas. Firstly, Ministers should accelerate business rate reform to create a system that incentivises investment. “We also need the Government to speed up infrastructure investment, to help SMEs in supply chains across the country. Finally, it’s crucial to support exports, prioritising a better trading deal with the European Union. “Without urgent Government action to ease the pain on businesses, the challenging economic landscape will get worse before it gets better.”  

Survey reveals divide in business sentiment after the budget

Stuart Pearcey
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Survey reveals divide in business sentiment after the budget
As UK businesses prepare to implement the tax changes announced in the October Budget, new research from Simply Asset Finance reveals a divide in business sentiment and prospects for growth. Mike Randall, CEO at Simply Asset Finance said: “The initiatives introduced in the recent budget are a silver lining for medium-sized businesses, with many of the measures evidently enabling them to pursue growth with renewed confidence providing the resources and stability needed for innovation and expansion. However, there is a pressing need to extend similar support to micro-businesses, as they continue to bear the brunt of unique challenges and uncertainties that threaten their ability to thrive. “The reality is that there’s no ‘one-size fits all’ policy for SMEs – nor for their financing either. Policymakers, lenders, and industry leaders must work together to provide the necessary support to help businesses of all sizes thrive, creating a more balanced and resilient future for the UK economy. “For finance providers, it’s about flexibility and trust. Whether it’s by offering debt restructuring, showing pathways to investment, or exploring ways to help businesses manage through seasonal fluctuations, there are concrete steps that can be taken to support SMEs and help them grow despite the current uncertainties. Only by leveraging the resilience and entrepreneurial spirit of UK businesses, can we unlock the potential of businesses of all sizes, broadening support and fostering a balanced and thriving economy.” Despite grappling with changes to NI and the minimum wage, the survey, carried out in the wake of the budget, shows that almost one in five businesses are more inclined to invest in their business now that there is greater clarity on the Government’s economic roadmap.  In addition, over half of businesses questioned believed the recently-announced reduction in business rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure will enable growth. But a closer look at the data shows that smaller businesses and micro businesses are likely to fare much worse than medium-sized companies following Chancellor Reeves’ interventions, says the company. The research reveals that medium-sized businesses are more likely to find that the announced policy changes will bolster their outlook and plans for 2025 than those at the other end of the spectrum. More than half see the business rate reduction as a growth opportunity, while 48% believe the fuel duty freeze will support their expansion. Infrastructure investments are also seen as key drivers, with 46% expecting transport spending to boost growth, and 43% viewing energy infrastructure improvements as essential. With these resources at their disposal, medium-sized businesses could be poised to leverage these policies for sustained success in the year ahead. However, the mood among smaller businesses, especially micro-businesses, is much bleaker.  Over half of micro-businesses believe rising national insurance contributions will hinder their growth, compared to 46% of small businesses and 40% of medium-sized businesses. Similarly, nearly half fear the impact of potential capital gains tax increases, a concern less pronounced among small (40%) and medium-sized (38%) firms. Adding to this, micro-businesses face the highest levels of uncertainty, with 7% unsure about their future—far higher than the 2% of small businesses and 1% of medium-sized businesses.  

Farming organisations demand full consultation on inheritance tax changes

Stuart Pearcey
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Farming organisations demand full consultation on inheritance tax changes
UK farming organisations have joined forces to pen a letter to the Chancellor, outlining the need to conduct a full and comprehensive consultation on the proposed changes to inheritance tax.
In the letter, farming leaders criticised the lack of consultation with the industry and professional practitioners prior to the announcement of the proposed changes to Agricultural and Business Property Relief. The Treasury has so far committed to only a very limited ‘technical consultation’ on one specific aspect of the proposals, relating to the policy on charges on property within trusts. That consultation will happen early this year. The letter urges the Chancellor to use this opportunity to carry out a far more comprehensive review of the proposals. Part of the letter said: “We urge the government to extend this consultation to cover other aspects of the policy, to ensure that it does not have the many negative consequences we believe it will have, in its current form, on family farms, environmental land management and food security.” Key areas of concern that the group is urging to be part of a bigger consultation include; the impact of the changes on farming profitability and the viability of farming businesses, the options for older individuals for whom, until now, the most effective tax advice had been to hold their farms until death, and the impact on the tenanted sector. Farming organisations emphasised that expanding the consultation will ensure the reforms to APR and BPR “will better enable the government to meet its fiscal objectives, while ensuring that working farm businesses are not periodically broken up on death, and that land available for tenancies is not reduced, given the serious negative impact these outcomes would have on growth and employment in the rural economy and on the nation’s food security”. Following the sending of the letter this week, NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “Farmers are at the heart of our rural communities, producing food and protecting the countryside for future generations, but the government’s proposed changes to inheritance tax put all that at risk. “As a significant group of food and farming organisations from across the UK, we are urging the Chancellor to listen to our concerns. “The government must extend its consultation on these reforms to safeguard the future of British farming. Without action, these changes risk tearing apart businesses that have been built over generations, undermining rural communities and jeopardising UK food security for years to come.”

Stone company fined almost £20,000 after failing to protect workers

Tess Egginton
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Stone company fined almost £20,000 after failing to protect workers
A company that produces stone products and its director have been fined a total of just under £20,000 after repeatedly failing to protect workers from exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS). The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) carried out several inspections on Warmsworth Stone Limited, which produces carved stone masonry products using limestone, sandstone, granite and marble, at the company’s site at Knabs Hill Farm on Clayton lane in Thurnscoe, starting in May 2023. Following these inspections, the company was served with seven improvement notices, which covered several failures including exposure to stone dust, control of legionella bacteria and inadequate welfare facilities. When HSE inspectors returned in September 2023, five of the improvement notices had still not been complied with – despite the company being given an extension to do so following another visit in August. The company had shown reckless disregard of several health and safety issues including the assessment and control of respirable dust, and the company’s standard of health and safety management was far below what is required by health and safety law, leading to HSE’s proactive prosecution for failure to control the exposure of workers to RCS. Stone workers are at risk of exposure to airborne particles of stone dust containing RCS when processing stone, by cutting, chiselling and polishing. Over time, breathing in these silica particles can cause irreversible, life-changing and often fatal respiratory conditions such as silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer. After the hearing the HSE inspector Charlotte Bligh said: “The company management responsible for health and safety were neither informed nor competent enough to carry out their role under the law. “Over time, the basic measures to secure the health of all on site had not been taken, there had been no attempt to assess health risks and existing control measures had not been properly maintained. “The company failed to take the initiative in health and safety matters and seek guidance, instruction and competent advice on implementation and communication of those measures necessary to control the risks at the site. “The provision of suitable protection for worker’s health is a basic requirement that this company has failed to meet. HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate action against those that fail to comply with the requirements of enforcement notices.” Warmsworth Stone Limited of 1-3 Sheffield Road, Warmsworth, Doncaster, South Yorkshire pleaded guilty to breaching section 21 of Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 by failing to comply with an Improvement Notice, breaching Regulation 7(1) of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 by failing to adequately control employee exposure to a substance hazardous to health namely RCS and breaching Regulation 9(2)(a) the same Regulations by failing to have local exhaust ventilation subject to a thorough examination and test at least every 14 months. They were fined £18,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4,064. Director Simon Jonathan Frith pleaded guilty to being a director of a company that had breached Regulation 7(1) of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 by failing to adequately control employee exposure to a substance hazardous to health namely RCS and breaching Regulation 9(2)(a) of the same Regulations by failing to have local exhaust ventilation subject to a thorough examination and test at least every 14 months, those offences being committed with his consent, connivance or neglect. He was fined £1,062, and ordered to pay costs of £3,782. The HSE prosecution was brought by enforcement lawyer Iain Jordan.

Stuart Pearcey
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Jonathan Oxley is to be the first Executive Director of the recently-formed Humber Energy Board Ltd, which is tasked with decarbonise the UK’s most carbon intensive region. In the role he will refine and deliver the HEB’s strategy to transform the region into a decarbonised industrial cluster. Last September, the HEB launched a report Delivering the Vision, which demonstrated that with the right Government support, decarbonising the Humber could unlock £15bn in private sector investment for the region and create tens of thousands of high-skilled jobs, protect UK energy security and help the country meet its ambitious climate targets. Jonathan continues in his role as a Senior Manager in the CBI’s Net Zero team, but will be seconded from the CBI to the HEB for up to two days a week.  He also continues in his role as a Commissioner on the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission. He has a professional career spanning over 30 years, which includes substantial experience in industry, having worked in senior roles in the energy sector with bp and the World Energy Council. He has also worked in the public sector, including leading the UKRI-funded work to develop a roadmap to decarbonise Humber industry. The appointment of Jonathan as the first paid role for the HEB is a significant moment for the organisation, and is part of its work to develop the structures, governance and processes required for it to be able to deliver on its mission. It follows on from the HEB appointing eight board directors from Humber based companies including ABP, Centrica, Drax, Harbour Energy, Phillips 66, RWE, SSE and VPI. Mr Oxley said: “The Humber is the biggest decarbonisation opportunity in the UK, and I look forward to continuing to play my part in helping protect and enhance our regional industry, whilst reducing the associated emissions. “I am pleased to have the chance to work with partners across the Humber in business, academia and local government, to refine and deliver our strategy for its transformation.  This could catalyse multi-billion pound investment in the region, create tens of thousands of jobs, help keep the country’s lights on and accelerate the UK’s net zero ambitions.” Richard Gwilliam, Chair of the Humber Energy Board, said: “2025 will be a key year for the HEB and we are delighted that Jonathan has accepted the Executive Director role. Jonathan has the skill and experience needed to take the organisation into its next chapter, develop and deliver our strategy and ensure that we can seize the opportunity to decarbonise the Humber and transform the region into a thriving net zero cluster.” The Humber produces around 4.4% of total UK industrial emissions, and emits 20% more carbon dioxide than any other industrial cluster, but has a critical role in providing energy security for the UK. The region generates 20% of the UK’s total electricity, and around 33% of the total offshore wind power is generated off its coast. The Humber creates around one-third of the UK’s refinery products and around one-fifth of all gas imported into the UK enters via the region.

Yorkshire Building Society appoints Director of People and Culture

Stuart Pearcey
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Yorkshire Building Society appoints Director of People and Culture
Yorkshire Building Society has appointed Kirsty Webb to be its Director of People and Culture. She’ll join the mutual on 3 February, bringing 25 years’ experience in people and HR leadership roles, most recently HR Director Group Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Interim Head of Talent for the Retail Division at Barclays Bank, where she has been since 2013. She said: “I am excited to be joining the team at Yorkshire Building Society as Director of People and Culture. Joining an organisation with such focus on making positive impacts to society and enabling customers to ‘make real life happen’ is a great honour. “I am particularly looking forward to getting to know the team and working together to further develop our people plans to enable both colleagues and members to grow and be successful.” Holly Rankin, Yorkshire Building Society’s Chief People Officer, said: “Kirsty brings a wealth of experience and I’m looking forward to working with her as we continue to strive to create an inclusive environment for all colleagues.”
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