“With the guidance finalised and by following these tips, consumers can now be more confident about getting the right plumber, plasterer, or roofer for the job, while genuine traders will no longer miss out on jobs that might otherwise have gone to illegitimate ones.”
CMA finalises new guidance for trader recommendation web sites
The Competition and Markets Authority has finalised advice for trader recommendation sites as it pushes the sector to ensure all businesses comply with consumer law.
This means all sites should have a clear idea of their obligations under consumer law, meaning they can offer their service responsibly and make sure they’re acting on the right side of the law.
And with the CMA set to receive stronger enforcement powers from next spring, trader recommendation sites that are not complying with their obligations risk facing a formal investigation.
The advice sets out the key principles sites should follow to make sure they stay on the right side of the law. Not only will this mean consumers are better protected, but it will help ensure there is a level playing field for qualified and reliable traders – who should no longer find themselves competing on recommendation sites with traders who are not properly vetted.
Mike Andrews, National Coordinator for the National Trading Standards eCrime Team, said: “Protecting consumers and honest business is at the heart of everything we do and we’ve welcomed the work CMA and partners have done to get this guidance in place. It marks the start of trader recommendation sites ensuring they vet and verify traders more carefully and take consumer complaints more seriously.
Former factory site changes hands ahead of new development in Stamford
Contracts have been exchanged in readiness for the planned transformation of the 15-hectare former Cummins site in Stamford.
It’s to be the site of the St Martin’s Park development, which will be made up of a designated commercial area; mixed-use area; retirement village; and a range of residential properties including affordable homes; and areas of green and open space.
South Kesteven District Council and landowner partner Burghley House Preservation Trust Ltd have reached purchase agreements with Morris Homes, Inspired Living and Burghley Land Ltd.
The Council bought the Cummins site in 2018 which, combined with adjacent land owned by Burghley House Preservation Trust, makes up the 14.7 hectare development site. The council bought the site in 2018 to ensure part of it would be used to provide jobs after the Cummins factory closed, and the designated commercial and mixed use areas will provide office space as well as a convenience store to serve the whole development.
Morris Homes will provide the residential development; Inspired Living the retirement village; and Burghley Land Ltd the commercial development.
SKDC’s Cabinet Member for Property and Public Engagement, Cllr Richard Cleaver, said: “This is a major development that will transform a derelict site into a thriving addition to the Stamford community. It will be a high-quality, well-designed and sustainable development with cycle routes and walkways into the town centre.
“It’s important to note that SKDC bought the former Cummins site in order to preserve employment use and we have remained true to that ambition.”
Outline planning permission for the site was granted in 2021 and the next stage in the planning process will see the three developers submit reserved matters applications early in 2025 for their parts of the development, along with an overall scheme to deliver joint infrastructure works on the site, including roads.
Cindy Cade, Group MD at Morris Homes, said: “We are pleased to be working with South Kesteven District Council to bring forward this exciting new development at St Martin’s Park in Stamford.
“This mixed-use scheme will offer a collection of premium and affordable homes ranging from two to five bedrooms. They will be designed to suit a range of demographics and lifestyles as well as some of the highest energy efficiency and sustainability standards.
“Following the success of our Cecil Square development, we are thrilled to continue our commitment to quality housing in the area, creating homes that will support the needs and aspirations of the whole community.”
Hull firm works with Siemens to develop production of clean hydrogen
Hull-based clean hydrogen producer HiiROC is working with Siemens on its hydrogen production technology, helping customers to decarbonise their operations and support their Net Zero ambitions.
Under the agreement, HiiROC will use Siemens’ control technology and factory and automation expertise to ensure the safe, efficient automation of hydrogen production and support in scaling.
HiiROC’s proprietary Thermal Plasma Electrolysis (TPE) technology is designed to meet rising demand for low-cost, scalable solutions for clean hydrogen production at the point of use, which helps to significantly reduce costs by removing the need for specialised storage and transportation.
Mike Plant, Head of Engineering at HiiROC, said: “Partnering with Siemens has allowed us access to a wide product range of solutions for the hazardous and demanding environment we operate. Not only that, but the support and industry leading knowledge Siemens has been able to provide on topics such as cybersecurity and software development is crucial to the product development and future upscale and production of our technology, which ultimately makes hydrogen an economically sustainable fuel source for millions of businesses worldwide.”
Andy Lane, senior commercial manager at Siemens, added: “The costs to transport and store hydrogen remains prohibitively expensive for businesses to make the switch at scale. The UK is also many years away from having an expansive hydrogen pipeline network for industry to tap into, despite positive early progress in its development.
“Powered by Siemens technology, HiiROC’s compact, low-carbon, low-cost solution to producing hydrogen at the point of use is a game-changer for the energy transition. They’ll enable many fuel-hungry businesses to meet their decarbonisation targets.
“No single organisation can deliver Net Zero alone. And we’re proud to work alongside like-minded innovators like HiiROC to tackle the energy transition – one of society’s biggest challenges.”
The TPE process splits gaseous hydrocarbons into hydrogen and solid carbon without creating carbon dioxide. This highly efficient process, recognised under the UK’s Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard, requires only a fifth of the electricity of water electrolysis.
As a key technology partner, Siemens will collaborate with HiiROC to advance product development, while its global developer support community will help in achieving the hydrogen producer’s international expansion goals. Siemens, which has ambitious commitments to decrease carbon emissions and contribute to a more sustainable society, works with organisations across sectors to decarbonise using technology.
New roles for two at Wright Vigar
Accountancy firm Wright Vigar has appointed Steve Newman to its Board, and make Ollie Martin the Office Director at Sleaford.
Steve Newman has a strong background in leadership, having served as a Board Director at Hobsons for five years before Wright Vigar’s acquisition of the company in 2021.
MD Kevin Shaw said: “Steve’s promotion to the Board will significantly strengthen our audit offering. His expertise and leadership have been invaluable in driving our technical standards forward, and we’re confident his contributions at the Board level will further enhance our services.”
Ollie Martin joined Wright Vigar as a Business Services Manager in 2015 and has played a crucial role in the Sleaford office’s growth and success over the past nine years.
Mr Shaw said: “Ollie has been an integral part of our team, consistently demonstrating his ability to develop our services and win new clients. His promotion to Office Director of Sleaford is a well-deserved recognition of his contributions and leadership.”
Hull names urban design consultancy to develop vision for city’s future
Hull City Council has appointed urban design practice Planit to lead the development of a vision for the future of the city.
Creation of a new vision for the city centre will be a key milestone in building Hull’s role as a regional hub for enterprise, investment and growth.
Over the next six months, Planit and their wider team of regeneration experts, will engage with Hull businesses, residents and stakeholders to develop a plan designed to stimulate the economy, respond to climate change and develop sustainable neighbourhoods.
Cllr Paul Drake-Davis said: “We want residents of our city to have a say in its future, a city they can feel proud of and a place where people want to live and visit.
“Alongside ensuring our communities thrive, our city centre must thrive alongside it. We have set out to create a new long-term vision for the heart of our city that makes the most of its assets.
“The new vision will build on existing plans to use the city’s strengths to create a thriving economy with job opportunities for everyone and a healthy place to live with access to affordable housing, green spaces and great opportunities to experience our culture and heritage.”
The master planning work is part of a £19.3m Government-funded programme to unlock key sites and regenerate areas of the city centre.
Andy Roberts, director of urban design at Planit, added: “It’s such an exciting time for this legendary maritime city which has great historical significance, not only for the UK, but the rest of the world.
“Committed to a regenerative future, we are passionate about preservation and building cities that can adapt. We’re delighted to play a central role in Hull’s development.”
Businesses urged to have their say on plans to change waste charges
The Environment Agency is encouraging the waste, water, and farming sectors to have their say on charges associated with waste activities.
The 10-week consultation, which runs until January, proposes introduction of new regulatory charges for specific waste activities, as well as updating existing charging regimes from April 2025.
The Environment Agency is consulting on four key proposals:
- A waste levy which will enable the Environment Agency to increase waste enforcement activity by around 30%.
- New and updated hourly rates to ensure continued recovery of costs of regulatory activities.
- A waste fee for intervention to recover the cost of regulation where operators lack authorisation.
- Registration and compliance charges for waste exemptions. For farmers, we are proposing a reduced compliance charge for a set of 15 common on-farm waste exemptions.
“Our proposals will see more investment in our services, which is crucial in protecting legitimate businesses, tackling waste crime and reducing environmental damage. We encourage interested parties to respond to help shape the future of their industry.”
South Yorkshire firms urged to share experiences of crime
Organisations across South Yorkshire are being asked to share their experiences with business crime via a new poll conducted by the three regional chambers of commerce.
Open until Monday 9th of December, the Business Crime Survey aims to find out how often local firms are targeted by shoplifting, burglary, theft from motor vehicles, fraud, assault and cyber-attacks, as well as the effect that these illegal activities can have on their day-to-day operations.
In addition to gathering said insights, the questionnaire will gauge respondents’ awareness of the various different support mechanisms that are out there to help them, while also asking them to rate how satisfied they have been with the response to any incidents that may have been reported in the past.
The South Yorkshire chambers promise to listen carefully to what the business community has to say, and plans to use the findings to better understand the scale of the problem; decide what more can be done to support firms with these challenges; and articulate to key partners (including the police) where improvements are needed most.
Chief Execs for the three South Yorkshire Chambers — covering Sheffield, Doncaster and Barnsley & Rotherham — issued the following joint statement: “From our regular interactions with members, we already know just how profound an effect business crime can have on an individual organisation; whether it takes the form of reputational damage, financial harm, customer loss or an impact on staff wellbeing. From SMEs right through to larger corporations, this is a major concern that spans all sectors and industries, which is why we are so keen to get under the bonnet of it via our new survey.
“By sparing just a few minutes to anonymously describe their experiences here, business-owners will be enabling us to fight more effectively in their corner. Indeed, we will be using the results to lobby for meaningful change, to make sure that the best possible support is available to firms on the ground when it comes to dealing with crime, and to hopefully make South Yorkshire’s private sector less vulnerable to such activity in the first place.
“To do this well, however, we need as many different perspectives as possible. After all, the greater the response to our questionnaire, the more authentically we will be able to represent businesses on this hot-button issue.”
The latest iteration of the South Yorkshire Quarterly Economic Survey (QES), the Business Crime Survey is sponsored by Clear Insurance Management and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA).
South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard, added: “We need businesses to have the confidence to invest; but that means listening to businesses about what undermines that confidence. I know crime and security are huge concerns for our business community, from fraud to shoplifting. So, as I develop my first Police and Crime Plan, I’m determined to listen and to learn. That’s why I need businesses to fill in the Business Crime Survey, so I can understand their needs and priorities, and what they want to see in that Plan.”
Steelworks’ carbon capture programme wins extension
The Environment Agency has granted British Steel permission to extend its trial of ground-breaking technology to capture carbon emissions from Scunthorpe steelworks.
The extension means the company can gather more detailed data from the technology and further support research into how it could be used in the steel industry and beyond.
The tech has been developed by the University of Sheffield and was showcased by one of the people behind it, Dr George Dowson, to Environment Agency members on a recent site visit.
The CO2 captured at the company’s Central Power Station will be bottled in gas cylinders and taken to the University where it will be converted into synthetic transport fuels.
Dr Andy Trowsdale, British Steel’s Head of Research and Development, said: “This project is all about testing the capabilities of the technology. If it works for us, and others, it could be scaled-up and play an important role in carbon capture, utilisation and storage.”
Breach of immigration rules earns eight-year directorship ban
A businessman who hired five illegal workers at his Sheffield car wash has been banned as a company director for eight years, and his company is being pursued for £75,000 for immigration breaches.
Lukas Horvath, 27, employed the workers at the Storm Hand Car Wash on Attercliffe Common, which was visited by Immigration Enforcement in 2022.
Horvath, of Lowedges Crescent, Sheffield, was disqualified at a hearing at the High Court in Manchester, and his directorship ban started today.
Dave Magrath, Director of Investigation and Enforcement Services at the Insolvency Service, said: “Company directors must follow all the rules and regulations that are required of them. Lukas Horvath failed to do this by employing five people who did not have the right to work at his car wash.
“Improving director conduct is a key priority for the Insolvency Service and we will continue to work with our partners at the Home Office to clamp down on those who do not meet the standards we expect.”
Storm Hand Car Wash, which trades as Storm Car Wash Limited, was incorporated in July 2020, with Horvath as its sole director. Immigration Enforcement visited it in June 2022, finding five men in their 20s with no right to work in the UK. Three were from Eritrea, with the other two from Iran and Iraq. Storm Hand Car Wash was fined £75,000 for the immigration breaches, which remains unpaid, but has been passed to specialist debt recovery contractors for enforcement action. Theresa Gregory, the Home Office’s Immigration Compliance Enforcement lead for North East, Yorkshire & Humber, said: “Illegal working undercuts honest employers, places vulnerable individuals at risk of exploitation and disadvantages legitimate job seekers. It also impacts public finances as taxes are not paid by these businesses and workers, which is why tracking down unscrupulous employers is so important.“We’re pleased to secure this director ban following an effective and close working relationship between the Home Office and the Insolvency Service.”
Loan of £90,000 was just what the doctor ordered for North Yorkshire vet practice
North Yorkshire-based Claro Hill Vets has secured a £90,000 loan to help navigate past cashflow issues during development of a state-of-the-art, purpose-built facility.
The money came from Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II – managed by Business Enterprise Fund.
Founded by experienced veterinary surgeon Laura Keyser in January this year, Claro Hill Vets services clients in Harrogate, Wetherby, North Leeds, and surrounding areas, operating from a state-of-the-art, purpose-built facility. The practice is equipped with three consulting rooms, two sterile operating theatres, a dental suite, digital x-ray, an in-house Idexx laboratory, and a cutting-edge CT scanner. Separate wards for cats and dogs ensure optimal patient care.
When unforeseen circumstances led to cost overruns during the facility’s development, the practice faced potential cashflow challenges. To navigate this, Laura turned to BEF for support, securing an NPIF II – BEF Smaller Loan alongside a £25,000 Start Up Loan provided by BEF in June 2024.
Laura said: “We’re incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received from BEF and the NPIF II fund. This funding has been instrumental in allowing us to overcome early financial challenges and focus on delivering the high level of care we’re passionate about. With our state-of-the-art facility, we’re excited to expand our services and grow our team, all while continuing to serve the communities of Harrogate and beyond. Our goal is to not only meet the rising demand for small animal care but to set new standards in veterinary services.”The funding not only provided crucial working capital but also enabled the creation of four new jobs while protecting seven existing ones.
Claro Hill Vets is one of the first businesses in North Yorkshire to benefit from a NPIF II Smaller Loan since the launch of the £660 million fund in March 2024.
The £660m Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIFII) covers the entire North of England and provides loans from £25k to £2m and equity investment up to £5m to help a range of small and medium sized businesses to start up, scale up or stay ahead.
Mark Iley, Senior Investment Manager at BEF said: “Laura and her team have created a truly impressive facility with cutting-edge technology and a commitment to high-quality care. By providing this funding, we’re not only helping them stabilise their operations but also enabling future growth and job creation in the local community. We’re excited for this round of funding to play a role in aiding her vet practice to reach its ambitious growth targets.”
The purpose of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II is to drive sustainable economic growth by supporting innovation and creating local opportunity for new and growing businesses across the North of England. The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II will increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for the North’s smaller businesses, providing funds to firms that might otherwise not receive investment and help to break down barriers in access to finance.
