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.
Green Building Renewables makes two managerial appointments
Green Building Renewables, based at Dunnington near York, has appointed a Sales Director and a Learning & Development Manager as it seeks to spread its business nationwide.
Alex Parkinson is the Sales Director, coming to the company with experience fromindustry leaders such as Bosch, Mitsubishi, and Google Nest. The company says Alex played a pivotal role at Google Nest by launching Nest PRO across multiple countries.
He said: “I am excited to have joined Green Building Renewables at a pivotal time in the country’s history and the renewable energy industry. The company’s buy-and-build strategy to bring together the top renewable technology experts across the county enables us to accelerate our market growth rapidly. By combining our talents, we collectively develop industry-leading capabilities that set us apart from others in the market. Growing our sales team will play a significant role in meeting our ambitions.”
Craig Stewart is the L&D Manager, and will design and implement comprehensive training to create the renewable energy experts of the future. He said: “I am passionate about education and development, and I am thrilled to bring my experience to Green Building Renewables. Together, we will build a robust training framework that supports our employees and drives the industry forward at a time when it has never been more crucial.”
MD Chris Delaney said: “Alex and Craig’s appointments reflect our ambition and aims as a company to help more people live sustainable lives. Our aim to be the largest domestic renewable energy installation company by coverage depends on hiring the best staff to grow our business. Alex and Craig bring a wealth of experience in their respective fields and will play a critical role in our expansion over the next few years.”
Meta changes its stance on Facebook Marketplace data collection
The Competition and Markets Authority has accepted proposals to vary Meta’s commitments in the way it uses data held by its advertising customers.
Under the original commitments, Meta pledged to limit how it used advertising customers’ data in order to prevent it from getting an unfair advantage. Competitors of Facebook Marketplace that advertised on Meta platforms could ‘opt out’ of their data being used to improve Facebook Marketplace.
The varied commitments give Meta an additional way to implement the data controls set up in the original commitments. Meta currently plans to adopt this new approach meaning that all advertisers can retain the ability to place advertisements on Facebook Marketplace and be certain of their advertising data not being used to improve Facebook Marketplace, without having to opt in or out.
Having consulted advertisers and Facebook Marketplace users on the proposals, the CMA has concluded that the revisions go above and beyond the original commitments and would not leave any advertisers worse off. As a result, the CMA has accepted the proposed variation.
MP calls for probe into claims that FCA ignored whistleblower for two years
Beverley MP Graham Stuart and seven colleagues have written to Chancellor Rachel Reeves calling for an investigation into claims that for two years the Financial Conduct Authority ignored a whistleblower’s warnings of a potential fraud.
The allegation centre around a wealth management company called WealthTek, which was ordered to cease trading In April 2023, after the FCA uncovered “serious regulatory and operational issues.” It opened a criminal investigation a year later after a potential shortfall of £81.4 million in client money was discovered.
However, it is alleged that the FCA failed to act on a whistleblower’s claims of potential fraud at WealthTek for over two years. These suspected fraudulent acts have been a source of significant financial and emotional distress to people affected in Beverley and Holderness and across the UK who are urgently awaiting answers.
Mr Stuart said: “I am shocked and saddened to learn of the alleged fraudulent activities carried out by WealthTek. Thousands of people, including some of my constituents, trusted them to provide a service and have been left distraught by their reported actions. That’s why I’ve written to the Chancellor to urge her to commission an investigation into why action was not taken sooner by the FCA.
“I will continue to support anyone affected by this in Beverley and Holderness and do all I can to help them at this very difficult time.”
Army visits Forgemasters to assess capability for making gun barrels
Sheffield Forgemasters’ could start making artillery gun barrels in the UK after 20 years in the wake of a visit too Sheffield Forgemasters by the senior army official responsible for supplies including weapons and helicopters, .
Lt Gen Simon Hamilton has seen Forgemasters’ existing and potential future unique capabilities which could support the Land Industrial Strategy.
He said: “The visit provided real insight into a vital manufacturing facility that supports the Defence Nuclear Enterprise and a better understanding of manufacturing capabilities that could increase UK content resilience and prosperity in the Land Domain in the future.”
Sheffield Forgemasters has the only deep, vertical heat-treatment system in the UK, which is an essential capability for processing long gun barrels.
Gary Nutter, CEO at Sheffield Forgemasters, said: “We were honoured to host Lieutenant General Hamilton for a visit of our site, so that he could see at first hand how our many years of expertise and facilities that do not exist elsewhere in the UK, are key assets for UK gun barrels manufacture.
“There will be a certain amount of recommissioning to specific elements of the plant in order to restart gun barrels manufacture, but the opportunity to reinstate a sovereign capability for this type of production is a great accolade for the city.”
Sheffield Forgemasters has a long history of providing armaments to the UK military, including cannon, artillery and naval guns, primarily through its Vickers predecessor and supporting both world wars, but has not manufactured gun barrels for more than 20 years.
Lindum York unveils £8m racecourse redevelopment to worldwide audience
An £8m racecourse redevelopment that’s taken Elvington-based Lindum York nine months to deliver will be showcased on an international stage today.
It forms the backdrop for the 2024 Sky Bet Ebor Festival at York, and includes the Roberto Bar, refurbishment of the historic 1913 Bustardthorpe Stand, including a new ground floor extension, and a new 900 square metre Churchill Tyres Lawn and ETFE Canopy
Lindum commissioned York Handmade Bricks to make 70,000 bricks, named the Ebor Range, for use in the construction.
Lindum York MD James Nellist said: “We are really looking forward to seeing the Southern End fully in use for the first time. The Ebor festival is a highlight in York’s calendar, and I can’t think of a better event through which to showcase this major investment by the racecourse team.
“As a local contractor, being able to play a part in maintaining and improving York Racecourse is important to us. It contributes millions of pounds to the city’s economy every year, supporting thousands of jobs and helping to maintain the livelihoods of people in our community. During this latest project, 75 per cent of our contract spend was with subcontractors and suppliers within a few miles of site.
“Over the last eight years, we have developed a great working relationship with William Derby and his team and we’ve been able to support this project with practical advice and solutions from its inception, through to its design, specification and construction.
Businesses welcome economic boost from sporting event
Businesses have spoken of their pride at showcasing North Yorkshire through a major sporting event aiming to boost the county’s vital visitor economy.
The Long Course Weekend has chosen the county for the first time the internationally-recognised multi-sport event has been staged in England.
The event is based on the principles of the triathlon, but 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 £2m to North Yorkshire’s economy by attracting thousands of competitors and visitors.
Council leader Carl Les said: “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.”
Business owners in Masham say they believe the sporting event will be a major showcase for the area.
Richard Welford, owner of the family-run Beavers Butchers on Silver Street in the town, said: “It’s a real privilege for us to be hosting the Long Course Weekend, and it will bring so many people to the area. It is not just about the weekend, though, as we know people will come back. This has happened before when people have said they loved the area while visiting and decided to book another stay.
“The organisers have engaged with the local community and have held meetings in the Town Hall to answer any questions people may have. I am really looking forward to it, and I am sure we will be able to show Masham and North Yorkshire in the best light possible.”
The Long Course Weekend will be held in Masham from Friday, 6 September, to Sunday, 8 September.
The swim distances range from 1.2 miles to 2.4 miles, cycling routes will be from 56 miles to 112 miles and the run will start at five kilometres to a full marathon. There will also be a children’s running event to encourage all members of the family to get involved.
The event was established in Wales in 2010, and now has annual competitions taking place across the globe including in Holland, Belgium, Mallorca, Australia and New Zealand.
Mitsubishi commits to £250m development at Saltend
Mitsubishi Chemical Group UK has committed to invest £250m in a new production line at Saltend Chemicals Park, within one of the three Humber Freeport tax sites.
Preparatory works are paving the way for a new production line, doubling the company’s capacity at the site east of Hull.
The investment in a second production line will create dozens of new jobs while also safeguarding the existing 130 roles at the Mitsubishi Chemical Group facility on site. The new production line is expected to become operational in 2026.
Saltend Chemical Park’s status as part of Humber Freeport’s Hull East tax site has been a key factor in securing the investment, with plans for Mitsubishi Chemical Group to extend its lease with the chemical park’s owner and operator, px Group, until 2060.
Businesses investing within the Humber Freeport tax sites benefit from a series of advantages, ranging from business rate and stamp duty land tax relief, to National Insurance support designed to reduce employment costs.
The new production line will help to meet growing demand for SoarnoL, the brand name for a grade of Ethylene Vinyl Co-Polymer (EVOH) which is primarily used in food packaging to extend product shelf life.
Since opening in 2002, Mitsubishi Chemical Group’s Saltend facility has seen a significant increase in demand for SoarnoL, which has been driven by food manufacturers seeking packaging that can be recycled and has a lower environmental impact.
The innovative product preserves flavour and freshness through use in items such as the protective film on ready meals, squeezy sauce bottles, baby food packaging, meat packaging and much more.
The investment will further strengthen trade links between the Humber and the rest of the world, with 95 per cent of production from the Mitsubishi Chemical Group facility at Saltend exported.
Humber Freeport Chair Simon Bird said: “We are delighted that Mitsubishi Chemical Group has chosen to make this very significant new investment at Saltend on a site benefiting from being within the Humber Freeport footprint.
“The substantial advantages offered by freeport status were an important factor in securing this new inward investment.
“It supports Humber Freeport’s mission to attract significant investment and create new, highly-skilled jobs and aligns with two of our key areas of focus – advanced manufacturing and decarbonisation.
“The Humber is the UK’s global gateway, offering easy access to Europe and beyond. The region also has the space to grow, the people, the skills and the world-class companies already here to support investors – all of which make the Humber the perfect place to do business.
“Those advantages are substantially enhanced by freeport status, making the region an even more attractive location for large-scale investments delivering very significant and long-lasting economic benefits.”
Peter des Forges, MD of Mitsubishi Chemical Group UK, said: “Once the new line is operational, the majority of the increased production will service the needs of our customers in more than 40 countries who continue to explore ways they can reduce waste and meet environmental targets.”
New Darley Street Market building officially handed over
The new state-of-the-art Darley Street Market building has been officially handed over to Bradford Council after contractor Kier completed the build phase, paving the way for the fit-out stage to commence.
Set in a 4,000 m2 prime city centre location, Darley Street Market will feature three bustling trading floors that will welcome independent traders as well as creating a cultural space for live music, arts and entertainment.
The top floor is to be a food and drinks hall with bar area, a stage and large screens for events, as well as a terrace balcony overlooking the 1,000 m2 open air market square.
The middle floor will have fresh food stalls including butchers, bakers, fishmongers, greengrocers and delicatessens.
The ground floor is where the non-food stalls will be located, and there will also be cafes which open out on to the market square, which features a big screen and can hold around 500 people for events and concerts. The square also has a series of interlocking umbrellas, which can be used to create an undercover area for pop-up market stalls and events.
Below the market square is a large underground area for trader deliveries, additional storage and waste handling and recycling.
Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “I’d like to thank partners Kier Construction for their work on the construction of this new state-of-the-art market building, which will be enjoyed by people from across the district and beyond. We’re looking forward to progressing through the next stage of the project, which is working with traders on the fit out of their stalls.”
Dan Doherty, regional director of Kier Construction North & Scotland, said: “This is a stand-out development for Bradford city centre and brings urban sustainability and community development together in one building.
“I am incredibly proud of the work our teams have done to finish this fantastic building as well as the positive legacy we’ll leave behind as a result of our work within the local community. I look forward to seeing the market and local area flourish once it is completed. Thank you to everyone involved.”
