Accent Housing secures £33.8m Government funding to expand affordable homes programme
Redditch Medical acquired by Schülke & Mayr
German healthcare company Schülke & Mayr has acquired Redditch Medical, a UK-based manufacturer of cleanroom contamination control products. The transaction delivers an exit for investment firm Traditum, which backed a management buy-out of Redditch Medical’s parent company Entaco Group in 2024.
Redditch Medical, founded in 2012, produces the InSpec range of disinfectants and detergents for life sciences and provides technical support through microbiological and chemical analytics. The business employs 44 staff, with exports driving most of its turnover.
Following Traditum’s investment, the business expanded production capacity, opened a laboratory, strengthened its management structure and launched new product lines. This led to growth in both domestic and international markets.
Schülke & Mayr’s purchase gives it a stronger foothold in cleanroom solutions, complementing its infection prevention portfolio across pharmaceutical and biotech sectors. Redditch Medical will continue operations under its current leadership while pursuing further expansion in European and global markets.
Traditum retains a stake in Entaco’s other divisions, which continue to manufacture surgical needles and medical devices in Worcestershire.
David Mitchell, CEO of Traditum, said: “Redditch Medical shows how strong leadership and supportive investors can unlock the potential of a business. Under Steve’s direction and with Traditum’s support, it has undergone a remarkable transformation in a little over a year. Becoming part of schülke will open up new opportunities as it enters the next stage of its growth journey.”
Lithia expands UK presence with Hatfields deal
Lithia UK has completed the acquisition of Hatfields Group, finalised on 30 September 2025. The transaction covers four Land Rover dealerships and an OMODA JAECOO site, marking the group’s first move into the Chinese brand in Britain.
The deal takes Lithia UK’s Land Rover footprint to 11 locations, many also offering Jaguar services, with new coverage across Hull, Liverpool, Pickering, and Shrewsbury. The Hatfields operations will be integrated into Lithia’s Stratstone luxury and exotics division while continuing under the Hatfields name. Staff will remain in post.
The OMODA JAECOO dealership in Hull will join Lithia’s Evans Halshaw division, which already works with brands including BYD, Ford, and Vauxhall. This brings a new OEM partner into the portfolio at a time of growing interest in emerging global marques.
Hatfields, established in 1922, has a long-standing history with Jaguar Land Rover, including recent industry recognition. Lithia UK confirmed the move strengthens its representation of Jaguar and Land Rover’s full model range while broadening its geographic reach in the North of England.
BHP records highest trainee intake in over a decade
Accountancy firm BHP has recruited 54 trainees this year, marking its largest intake since before 2015. The new cohort reflects rising demand from SMEs and mid-market firms for specialist financial support.
The group includes 29 graduates, 17 non-graduates, and seven placement students. For the first time, permanent roles have also been offered to individuals who previously joined BHP through its Work Experience Academy, which provides early exposure to accountancy and finance careers.
BHP, which operates across Sheffield, Leeds, York, Chesterfield and Cleckheaton, runs a development programme giving trainees experience across its full range of services while they study for professional qualifications. Over the past five years, more than 190 individuals have progressed through the scheme into permanent roles within the firm and the wider industry.
Karen Arch, chief people officer at BHP, said: “In an uncertain world, it’s crucial that we have the right talent in place for businesses and organisations looking for trusted advice, now and in the future.
“We are hugely proud of the development opportunities we offer to people through our leading training programme and it’s especially pleasing to be able to offer employment to the highest number in ten years despite the wider mixed economic outlook.
“A fifth of those joining us in this cohort are actually coming back, having previously worked with us during their year in industry at university or taken part in our Work Experience Academy, which is testament to our positive environment and values-driven culture.”
The firm said the latest intake supports its long-term strategy of building talent pipelines across accountancy, payroll, and IT, as regulatory requirements continue to expand for its client base.
Yorkshire law firms gain ground in national rankings
Yorkshire’s legal sector has secured a strong presence in the 2025 edition of The Legal 500, with nearly 550 rankings across 45 practice areas.
The guide assesses almost 1,200 UK firms and more than 13,000 lawyers. In Yorkshire, Walker Morris, DLA Piper and Addleshaw Goddard led the listings, recording 24, 24 and 23 firm rankings respectively, alongside more than 40 individual lawyer rankings each. Pinsent Masons and Irwin Mitchell completed the top five, achieving 19 and 18 firm rankings.
The year saw notable consolidation. Wilkin Chapman and Rollits merged, creating a wider presence across Hull, York, and Beverley. Sheffield-based Bell & Buxton joined Sills & Betteridge in September, while Lupton Fawcett was acquired by Flint Bishop, strengthening Leeds as a key hub.
In Leeds, Walker Morris retained its position as the city’s leading independent firm, with Clarion close behind on 16 total rankings. Sheffield’s main players highlighted were CMS, DLA Piper and Irwin Mitchell. Hull continued to demonstrate a distinctive market identity, with Andrew Jackson, Gosschalks and the newly merged Wilkin Chapman Rollits performing strongly.
The 2026 edition of The Legal 500 will be the first to include a law firm comparison tool, enabling side-by-side analysis of rankings, matters, and lawyer recognition.
HP Construction completes management buyout
South Yorkshire-based HP Construction Ltd has completed a management buyout, securing the future direction of the company as its long-standing directors step down.
The deal transfers ownership to Nick Gillott, Darren Bocking, and Amanda Hayes, who take over from outgoing co-managing directors David Hutchison and Richard Powell. The new owners bring decades of experience within the business, with backgrounds spanning project management, finance, and operations.
HP Construction, established in 2006, delivers civil engineering and infrastructure projects across the industrial, commercial, and motor retail sectors. The company has built a strong reputation nationwide for its work on large-scale developments.
SMH Group acted as lead adviser on the transaction, providing corporate finance and tax guidance. Legal support was provided by MD Law, which advised the sellers, and Dawson Radford Solicitors, which advised the management team.
Nick Gillott, on behalf of the management team, said: “This transaction secures the future of HP Construction and provides a platform for the next phase of growth. Darren, Amanda and I are committed to maintaining the high standards the company is known for while building on its excellent reputation in the sector.”
The MBO marks a transition in leadership designed to ensure continuity for staff and clients while positioning the business for future growth.
Broadway centre placed on market for £74m
The Broadway Shopping Centre in Bradford has been put up for sale with a price tag of £74m.
The property, managed by Munroe K Asset Management on behalf of Broadway (Bradford) Limited, is being marketed by Savills. The estate agent is acting for LPA Receivers Jemma McAndrew and Matthew Nagle of its Recoveries and Receivership team.
The scheme covers 72,876 sq ft of retail and leisure space and is currently home to 57 outlets, including Primark, JD Sports, Boots, Superdrug, and Next.
Construction on the £260m development began in 2004 but was delayed by the global financial crisis before opening in 2015. At launch, more than 70 units opened with expectations of creating 2,500 permanent jobs and a projected 40% uplift in city centre footfall.
Since then, the retail mix has shifted with the loss of chains such as Debenhams and the recent exit of M&S. Despite these changes, the site remains a central destination for shopping and leisure in the city.
The sale comes as Bradford continues to attract investment across both public and private sectors, positioning the centre as a significant opportunity for potential buyers.
Veterinary group completes £13m refinancing deal to support growth strategy
Roofing merger creates £20m nationwide group
Two established roofing contractors have merged their operations to create a business with a turnover exceeding £20 million and a workforce of 60 employees. Roofclad Systems has merged with Profile Industrial Roofing, forming a group with five offices across the UK.
Roofclad, with more than four decades in the sector, has bases in Newcastle, Leeds, Warrington, and Reading, serving clients in industries including manufacturing, logistics, retail, education, and defence. Profile Industrial Roofing, founded in 1996 and based in the Midlands, will adopt the Roofclad Systems name from October 2025.
The combined company has also secured a new head office at Britannia Enterprise Park in Lichfield, Staffordshire. The site was purchased earlier this year to double available workspace and will undergo a full fit-out, with operations scheduled to begin there in January 2026.
The new business will be co-led by David Clarke of Profile Industrial Roofing and Alex Tilley of Roofclad Systems. In addition to its core industrial and commercial roofing services, the group plans to expand its project management and technical capabilities and broaden its offerings to include energy-efficient roofing solutions and solar technology.
Yorkshire investors regain control of Cooplands
Coopland & Son (Scarborough) Ltd has returned to local ownership after being acquired from EG Group by a Yorkshire-based investor team. The deal brings the bakery business back to the region where it was first established in 1885.
The buy-in is led by David Salkeld, who resumes his position as Chairman. He is joined by Paul Coopland, representing the founding family, who takes up a Non-Executive Director role. John Ruddock, with more than two decades at the company, continues as Chief Executive. The leadership team is further strengthened by John Kitson as Chief Financial Officer and Steph McGinty as HR and Transformation Director.
Cooplands operates two bakeries supplying a network of 154 stores across Yorkshire and the north-east. The business employs more than 1,400 people and remains one of the largest regional bakery chains in the UK.
John Ruddock, CEO of Cooplands, said: “It is with genuine pride that we announce today’s purchase, which brings Cooplands back under the management of a locally based team with strong and established knowledge of our organisation, our colleagues, suppliers and customers. This gives us the opportunity to focus on strategic growth for the future, whilst preserving the traditional values and excellence for which the brand has been known and respected for over 140 years.”
The transaction is positioned to give Cooplands renewed strategic focus under regional leadership while maintaining its longstanding reputation for bakery production and retail. For the company’s workforce, suppliers, and retail partners, the move signals continuity alongside plans for future growth.
