Yorkshire Water volunteers create activity area for children
Volunteers from Yorkshire Water have created an activity area for children at Rockwell Community Centre in Bradford including a tyre balance beam, new benches, several new allotment vegetable beds and a mud play pit.
The Rockwell Centre is a local community centre for Thorpe Edge and surrounding areas. They offer different activities daily, including mental health groups, a singing group, tai chi, Bloomin’ Buds Theatre Company and a youth club.
The work, undertaken with Participate Projects, has provided the community with an outdoor area, particularly for children to play and learn to grow their own vegetables and herbs.
Katie Mahon, founder of Bloomin’ Buds Theatre Company, said: “It was incredible to see the centre as a hive of activity. We were very lucky to have 22 volunteers to help clear up our outside space.
“As a charitable organisation that is always short on funding and manpower, our outdoor space is often last to be sorted out, so this helped us massively!”
The volunteering comes as part of a wider partnership between Yorkshire Water and Participate Projects, a non-profit that aims to co-ordinate and increase delivery of colleague volunteering in communities across the county.
Anne Reed, social value and education advisor at Yorkshire Water, said: “Our colleagues are passionate about helping out in local communities and providing value beyond our water and wastewater services.
“Our partnership with Participate Projects is already increasing the frequency of our volunteering events and is providing meaningful support to organisations and people across Yorkshire.”
The partnership has already seen Yorkshire Water colleagues embarking on a range of volunteering projects, from decorating community spaces to building outdoor play areas for children, with more plans still over the next few months.
Anthony Waddington, CEO at Participate Projects, added: “We are really excited to see Yorkshire Water colleagues’ time and skills make a real impact in the communities where they operate. The passion and enthusiasm we have seen from them in supporting the people and places around them is a great match to the values and mission of Participate.”
Leeds property developer opens 6,000 sq ft office in Sheffield regeneration hotspot
Leeds-based Torsion Group – a developer and contractor of student accommodation and build-to-rent residential schemes – has taken over the first floor of Velocity Village at 2 Tenter Street, joining the likes of DLP Planning, Anytime Fitness, Ministry of Justice and Wake Smith Solicitors.
Torsion Group is working on a number of flagship projects across the UK, including Sky Gardens in Leeds and Hollis Croft in Sheffield.
The under-construction Hollis Croft – a 17-storey tower with 234 build-to-rent apartments – is located just a stone’s throw from Torsion’s new Sheffield base. The development also sits directly next to True Sheffield – a 27-storey student-residential tower that is currently being delivered by Aztec Construction.
Like Torsion Group, Aztec Construction has also opened a new office in the area and now occupies over 10,000 sq ft of space at the nearby Pennine Five campus, which has undergone a multi-million-pound refurbishment over recent years.
Both Velocity Village and Pennine Five are owned by RBH Properties.
Jeremy Hughes, Director at RBH Properties, said: “We are delighted to welcome Torsion Group to 2 Tenter Street and are looking forward to seeing them join the evolving business community in the area.
“Much like Aztec Construction over at our Pennine Five campus, Torsion has realised the huge potential of this area of Sheffield City Centre, basing themselves here while simultaneously developing a new residential scheme just metres away.
“We believe our own investment into the area has provided real confidence and acted as a catalyst for further growth. It’s incredibly exciting to see several new residential developments underway and new businesses moving in, helping to cement the area’s promising future.”
Work gets underway to renovate new retail spaces at Leeds Corn Exchange
Work is underway to renovate a series of new retail spaces on the piazza level of Leeds Corn Exchange, offering more retailers an opportunity to locate at this historic building.
Ten spaces are being created ranging from 80 sq ft kiosk spaces to 870 sq ft retail units. A kitchen and restaurant space – which includes the original central courtyard – is also being refurbished.
The works are the latest in an ongoing programme of improvements by Yorkshire-based property investment company and heritage restoration specialists, Rushbond, which has owned the building since 2017 and carried out careful repairs and renovations to preserve and enhance this much-loved gem.
The new spaces will offer more retailers and makers the chance to put down roots in this landmark Grade I listed building, joining more than 30 independently minded businesses offering everything from fashion and food to hand-crafted homeware and contemporary art.
Richard Baker from Rushbond said: “This is the culmination of our strategic campaign in recent years to attract like-minded tenants who bring something special to this much-loved building.
“We have had an increase in interest from businesses looking for smaller retail spaces with flexible leases, and we’re responding to that demand by progressing the release of additional spaces.
“As custodians of this incredible place, we work hard to preserve its history whilst enhancing its amenities to create spaces where modern retailers can thrive, and we look forward to welcoming the next chapter of tenants who will become part of its story.”
Aon’s Leeds team raises funds for Zarach charity
Colleagues from Aon’s Leeds office have raised £2,400 for Zarach, a Leeds-based charity on a mission to lift children out of child poverty.
Following the refurbishment of its Number One Embankment office, global professional services firm Aon sold the office furniture and donated the funds raised to the charity, which aims to support the 894,000 children in the UK without a proper bed.
The donation is one of a number of initiatives that the Aon team has undertaken to support the charity over the past three years. The funds will enable Zarach to provide 16 children and young people with a bed and bedding.
By selling the furniture and giving it a second life, Aon has also ensured that the items have not ended up in landfill and avoided the associated carbon emissions.
Ellie McGrath, Fundraising and Communications Manager at Zarach, said: “This initiative from Aon is such a brilliant way to see more children lifted out of bed poverty. Zarach works closely with local schools to take referrals and our family engagement team is in touch with families within 48 hours. Support like this from Aon gives us confidence that we can keep operating at this pace, meeting the need and growing our national presence. Thank you!”
Suzanne Gott, at Aon in Leeds, said: “The rise in the cost of living has exacerbated child poverty, causing families to prioritise food, heating and other essentials over buying a bed. Zarach’s aim is to support these families by ensuring children and young people have a comfortable bed, providing them with a good night’s sleep, and helping them to perform better in education as well as improving their physical and mental health.
“Aon is committed to making a positive difference in the communities it serves and, as part of our ESG strategy, to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, through pursuing sustainable business solutions.
“By selling the furniture we have both reduced our carbon emissions and helped Zarach to continue helping vulnerable children and families living in poverty.”
Source expands with head of digital PR
Performance-led marketing communications agency, Source, has further expanded its team with a new senior recruit.
The Leeds-based business, which works across PR, SEO, paid digital and social media, has appointed Hayley Stansfield as head of digital PR.
Hayley, former head of content marketing at XLMedia PLC, brings 12 years’ experience to the Source team and will play a key role in improving the online visibility and authority of its clients by creating a robust Digital PR strategy for the business.
Commenting on her appointment, Hayley said: “I am thrilled to be joining an agency with such a great reputation and a versatile client portfolio. This creates the opportunity to produce some really exciting online PR campaigns and can’t wait to get stuck in.
“A key part of my role will also include defining clients’ digital PR goals and creating a robust reporting strategy to show the true value of the links and coverage earned for clients.”
Chris Hughes, director at Source, adds: “Now is an exciting time to have Hayley join the business following new client wins. To elevate the agency and become more digitally minded, it is essential we onboard the right people and create a knowledgeable team to help grow the business. Hayley joins as part of the agency’s ambition to grow and diversify our service offerings.”
Parking and transport payment systems firm snapped up
Modaxo, a global technology organisation, has acquired CAMMAX, a Castleford-based provider of self-service Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs), Parking Payment machines, and associated services.
CAMMAX brings a wealth of expertise and a proven track record in delivering innovative payment systems for public transportation and car parks. The company’s solution portfolio includes a wide range of TVMs for rail, tram, and bus journeys, as well as off-street parking payment systems for Pay on Exit, Pay on Entry, and Hybrid car parks.
“We are delighted to welcome CAMMAX and its employees and customers to the Modaxo family,” said Laurent Eskenazi, Head of EMEA, UK, and Asia at Modaxo. “CAMMAX’s impressive track record in simplifying travel and parking payments aligns with our vision of creating seamless mobility experiences for all.”
“Joining the Modaxo family is an exciting milestone for CAMMAX,” said Julian Rooney, Managing Director, CAMMAX. “We share a common vision of transforming the transportation and parking experience through technology. Now with Modaxo we feel we can deliver even more value to our customers and drive the industry forward.”
CAMMAX will maintain its unique brand identity and autonomy while benefiting from investment, support, coaching, best practices, and peer learning made available by Modaxo. Julian Rooney continues to lead the business along with the management team.
Leeds Trinity University signs agreements with employers
Leeds Trinity University has signed the first Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with three organisations as part of a new project to enrich student education and opportunities.
Leeds-based digital services company Hippo, Liberty Shared Services (part of Liberty Global, which has offices in Bradford and London), and UST – a Digital Transformation Solutions Company which provides services on a global scale – have signed the MOUs as part of the University’s employer partnership agreements.
The opportunities that will be provided to Leeds Trinity students through the enhanced partnerships include a mix of work placements, certification pathways and mentoring. In return, employer partner organisations will benefit from access to a pool of skilled and well-prepared graduates, fostering innovation and growth within their companies.
With a particular focus on businesses in the tech and law industries initially, the University’s Employer Partnership project is intended to strengthen opportunities for Leeds Trinity students to work with employers in Leeds as it establishes itself as a key education provider and partner for the sectors.
Professor Catherine O’Connor, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education and Experience) at Leeds Trinity University, said: “We have long-standing and embedded ways of working with employers with regards to placements. These new partnership agreements give us the opportunity to reinforce our approach to working with businesses to support our students in developing their skills, understanding and pathways to their future careers. We’re delighted at the commitment from employers to being involved with the curriculum to enrich student education and opportunities.
“Along with the opening of our second campus in the heart of Leeds City Centre, this work cements our commitment to supporting growth and the demand for skills across the city and region.”
Commenting on the MOU signing, Liz Whitefield, Founder and Executive Director of Hippo, said: “Being part of the great digital and tech community in Leeds is something Hippo is proud of, but we have always known the part we must (and love to) play in helping to close the digital skills gap and engaging with educational institutions like Leeds Trinity is vital to that.
“We have had a longstanding relationship with Leeds Trinity and this MOU takes that to another level, showing the joint commitment between education and industry. The active role our digital professionals play in supporting the initiatives brings real world delivery experience closer to the students.”
Chloe Wood, Chief of Staff at Liberty Financial Services, said: “I am excited about this partnership with Leeds Trinity University, which acknowledges our joint commitment to nurturing talent, fostering innovation, and bridging the gap between academia and industry.
“The partnership provides students with invaluable industry experience, enhancing their career readiness whilst shaping the future of our industry. This partnership allows us to develop graduate courses that are aligned with real-world demands and emerging trends, ensuring that the next generation of graduates is well-equipped to lead and innovate.”
Praveen Prabhakaran, UK Managing Director and Global Chief Delivery Officer at UST, said: “Our focus has been around transforming lives by designing engagements that can have a meaningful impact for the communities.
“Our Leeds Digital Development centre was designed to promote digital talent from the local community, and we are delighted to be an official employer partner of Leeds Trinity University and to be able to provide opportunity to support their students throughout their studies and future careers.
“Our partnership will revolve around how we can deliver skills and solutions in the Generative AI, Cyber Security, Data Science and Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) space, providing learning for students and tangible benefits for the University.”
Industrial site in Yorkshire Dales comes onto the market
One of the only vacant large-scale industrial units in the South Yorkshire Dales is for sale for about £1.25m and could be redeveloped for a variety of uses, subject to securing relevant planning consents.
Langcliffe Mill, on Stainforth Road, is about a mile away from the market town of Settle and offers more than 21,000 sq ft of industrial accommodation spread across three buildings. The whole site covers more than 3.6 acres, including a large concrete yard.
The site is being marketed by our Leeds-based commercial property agent, Dacres Commercial, which is seeking offers in the region of £1.25million. The vendor would also consider letting the site with an initial rent in the region of £130,000 per annum.
Hedley Steel, from Dacres Commercial, said: “Industrial sites within the Yorkshire Dales National Park are very rare so we’re anticipating high levels of interest in Langcliffe Mill.”
BCC survey highlights the ‘add-ons’ that could help employers fill vacancies
A survey of 1,300 businesses has revealed how employers can set themselves apart to attract the best job candidates.
The survey, undertaken by the British Chambers of Commerce, found that although there were almost 890,000 job vacancies, there were more than nine million people who not looking for jobs.
Meanwhile, BCC research shows 62% of businesses report they are experiencing skills shortages, rising to 74% for manufacturing firms. To attract and retain diverse talent fit for the future, it’s clear that businesses need to adapt their workplaces for the modern economy.
It also shows 63% of businesses have no specific recruitment, training or retention plan for specific groups of workers like under 25s, over 50s, disabled or neurodiverse people, or diverse ethnicities.
So, what can an employer do to make their workplace more attractive?
Introducing flexible working can help employees balance work with other commitments. 14% of businesses reported they were unable to hire or retain people specifically because of childcare responsibilities, while 34% see decreased staff morale due to skills shortages. More and more firms are recognising that flexible working makes good business sense. Working from home, compressed hours and job sharing are all examples of flexibilities that could help attract and retain staff.
Health and wellbeing support in the workplace is also now increasingly important to prevent illness becoming a barrier to work. BCC’s 2024 Workforce Survey showed employee uptake of occupational health provision is rising, but fewer than 4 in 10 businesses offered health and wellbeing services. For many SMEs already struggling with rising costs, reducing the tax on workplace insurance and health plans would encourage more employers to offer these services. Taking a more proactive approach to maintaining good health and supporting people back into work when they experience illness makes sense for business and the economy.
Finally, what role does CSR play? Just 1 in 10 businesses told us that they have seen any requests from employees or candidates for evidence of their organisation’s social impact. This suggests the initial focus for businesses looking to attract and retain staff should be on employee benefits and flexible working practices. Nonetheless, there’s no doubt these important commitments could play a greater role going forward.
Hannah Larsen, Policy Officer, British Chambers of Commerce, said: “Employees must be supported to find and thrive in work in order to build a resilient workforce fit for the future. In a tight labour market and under high cost pressures, employers can look to non-pay benefits such as flexible working and health support to set themselves apart.
“The government should also play a role in removing barriers to work, including better access to occupational health services, to help SMEs and their workforce take advantage of these benefits.”
Global sporting event set to bring boost for North Yorkshire businesses
Businesses and local communities have spoken of their pride at showcasing North Yorkshire through a major sporting event that is aiming to boost the county’s vital visitor economy.
The Long Course Weekend will be hosted next month, the first time that the internationally recognised multi-sport event has been staged in England.
The event is based on the principles of the triathlon but is tailored to open up the three disciplines of swimming, cycling and running to as wide an audience as possible.
It is hoped that the sporting competition will bring in as much as £2 million to North Yorkshire’s economy and will attract thousands of competitors and visitors.
Council leader, Cllr Carl Les, said: “We are delighted to be hosting the Long Course Weekend, which has grown a reputation around the world as being an extremely successful sporting event.
“We know how important the visitor economy is in North Yorkshire, especially in areas such as the Yorkshire Dales.
“The Long Course Weekend will give us the opportunity to showcase Masham and North Yorkshire to thousands of people who will be visiting, bringing a welcome economic boost for local businesses.”
The Long Course Weekend will be held in Masham from Friday, 6 September, to Sunday, 8 September.
The Long Course Weekend’s founder and chief executive, Matthew Evans, said: “We are extremely excited to bring the Long Course Weekend to North Yorkshire, and we are hoping that all the local communities will embrace the opportunities it will bring.
“We have a proven track record of staging these major events around the world, and it will help raise the profile of North Yorkshire even further and show what a wonderful place it is to live, work and visit.”
New figures released in July revealed that tourism contributed more than £4 billion to North Yorkshire’s visitor economy last year, attracting in excess of 31 million people to the county.
The data also highlighted how the local tourism industry supports 38,486 jobs through direct and indirect employment making up 13 per cent of all employment across North Yorkshire.
